Improving Management of Opioids and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in Older Adults (R18) | RFA HS 20 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HS 20 001

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offered this discretionary grant opportunity to support practical, real-world projects that strengthen how primary care practices manage opioid prescribing, opioid use, and opioid use disorder (OUD) among older adults. The central aim is to develop, implement, evaluate, and then actively disseminate strategies that improve care for older patients, with a particular emphasis on primary care settings that serve large numbers of socially at-risk older adults. In other words, AHRQ is looking for projects that move beyond theory and directly help clinics improve safety, quality, and outcomes for an older population that may face added barriers such as poverty, limited access to specialty care, complex medical needs, disability, or social instability.

This funding announcement (RFA HS 20 001) uses the R18 research demonstration and dissemination grant mechanism, which generally signals an expectation of applied work: building or adapting evidence-based interventions, integrating them into routine clinical workflows, measuring whether they work in practice, and sharing what was learned so that other sites can replicate successful approaches. Applicants are expected to propose a comprehensive plan that combines evidence-based interventions with quality improvement strategies. The scope is broad enough to include improvements in pain management, safer opioid prescribing and monitoring, identification of problematic opioid use, and better recognition and treatment of OUD in older adults, all within primary care. The focus on quality improvement implies attention to implementation supports like clinical decision tools, workflow redesign, provider training, care coordination, measurement and feedback, and patient engagement approaches that can realistically be sustained after the grant period.

The intended setting is primary care, where many older adults receive most of their care and where opioid prescribing decisions often occur. Projects under this opportunity would be expected to address the unique risks older adults face when opioids are involved, such as higher vulnerability to adverse drug events, falls, cognitive effects, drug-drug interactions, and complications from multiple chronic conditions. At the same time, the opportunity recognizes that older adults may also have long-standing pain conditions, functional limitations, and limited access to alternatives, so the goal is not simply reducing prescribing but improving overall management, including appropriate pain treatment and effective OUD care when needed.

A wide range of organizations were eligible to apply, including state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as allowed by the program. This broad eligibility aligns with the program's practical orientation, allowing healthcare systems, community-based organizations, academic groups, and public agencies to partner and test solutions in diverse primary care environments.

The opportunity was posted with a creation date of December 16, 2019, and an original closing date of February 23, 2020. AHRQ anticipated making three awards. The published award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically indicates that applicants needed to consult the full announcement for budget expectations and constraints rather than relying on a fixed maximum shown in the summary field. The CFDA number associated with the program is 93.226, placing it within AHRQ's health services research and improvement portfolio.

In practical terms, a competitive application for this opportunity would be expected to clearly define the older adult population being served, describe the primary care settings involved (especially those serving socially at-risk groups), specify which evidence-based interventions and quality improvement methods will be used, and lay out an evaluation plan showing how improvements in pain management, opioid safety, and OUD identification and treatment will be measured. Just as important, applicants would need a credible dissemination plan so that the strategies, tools, and findings can be shared and adopted beyond the initial sites, helping spread effective approaches to safer, more equitable opioid and OUD care for older adults in primary care.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving Management of Opioids and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in Older Adults (R18)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.226.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 16, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 23, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA HS 20 001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: