U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Care Coordination for CSHCN Challenge

This Challenge will support the development and testing of low-cost, scalable, technology-based innovations to meet the needs of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families. Innovations should improve the quality of care, enhance family engagement, and positively impact health care outcomes with the potential of saving costs to families, society, and to the health care system. CSHCN and their families are the primary stakeholders for all solutions proposed. In order to deliver improved outcomes for this stakeholder group, it is understood other stakeholders across the health care system, including providers and payers, should be involved. Solutions proposing to improve any or all aspects of the overall health care system, with the intent of driving better outcomes for children and families, will be preferred.

For CSHCN, coordinated care by their care team, including family members, primary, specialty, and service providers, is essential to their health and well-being. However, communication and coordination across systems of care is often fragmented. Too often, family members of CSHCN serve the care coordinator role and assume full responsibility for aggregating and sharing health information across providers and settings.

Health information technology (HIT) provides an opportunity to organize data from disparate sources into one cohesive patient-centered record that can effect optimal care coordination and planning among care team members across multiple systems and settings. HIT standards are available to support the bi-directional exchange of care plans and necessary health informatics for CSHCN. Despite this, most attempts to facilitate the electronic exchange of records and the sharing of information in a timely manner among care team members have neither been scalable nor patient/family-centered.

Amount: Awards will be made through the following phases:

• Phase 1 – Design: 7-10 winners will receive up to $10,000
• Phase 2 – Development and small-scale testing: 3-5 winners will receive up to $25,000
• Phase 3 – Scaling: 1 winner will receive up to $150,000

Eligibility: Individuals and private entities in the U.S. may apply. No eligibility limitations are indicated.

Link: https://mchbgrandchallenges.hrsa.gov/challenges/care-coordination-cshcn

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