AHRQ and the Recovery Act
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) to provide patients, clinicians, and others evidence-based information to make informed decisions about health care. The Recovery Act contains $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research. Of the total, $300 million is for AHRQ to build on its existing collaborative and transparent Effective Health Care program. This page provides links to AHRQ Recovery Act funding announcements, information on reporting requirements, and key announcements.
Overview | Funding Opportunities | Reporting Requirements | Key Announcements | Frequently Asked Questions
Overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes measures to modernize our Nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
AHRQ and the Recovery Act
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is excited about the new opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) to provide patients, clinicians, and others evidence-based information to make informed decisions about health care. ARRA contains $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research. Of the total, $300 million is for AHRQ to build on its existing collaborative and transparent Effective Health Care program. This program allows for input from all perspectives into the development of the research and implementation of the findings.
Of the remaining funds, $400 million each will go to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Office of HHS Secretary. The legislation calls on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to recommend research priorities for these funds and gather stakeholder input. A report was delivered June 30, 2009. In addition, the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research was created to offer guidance and coordination on the use of these funds. Select for excerpt from the Recovery Act related to comparative effectiveness research.
AHRQ is gearing up to make the most of this additional funding. We are undertaking a process to determine what will be funded, as guided by the Federal Coordinating Council, the IOM and other external sources. We will work closely with NIH and the Office of the Secretary to ensure that we use these funds in the most effective manner and that we are coordinating our plans to maximize effectiveness of this important investment.
Select to access the NIH Guide notice: AHRQ Announces Intent to Publish Grant and Contract Solicitations for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Projects with Funds from ARRA.
Return to Contents
Funding Opportunities from Recovery Act Funds
To date, AHRQ has posted the following funding announcements for Recovery
Act funds:
- Recovery
Act 2009 Limited Competition: Innovative Adaptation and Dissemination
of AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Research Products (iADAPT)
(R18)
- Recovery Act
2009 Limited Competition: AHRQ Clinical and Health Outcomes Initiative in
Comparative Effectiveness (CHOICE) Grants (R01)
- Comprehensive EPC Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
for Effective Health Care
- EPC Methods Research and Resource Activities for
Evidence Synthesis
Standard terms and conditions apply to awards funded by the Recovery Act. To learn more about terms and conditions for awards, select Standard Terms and Conditions, ARRA Division A Funds.
Grants funding appeals have been suspended for Recovery Act
funding opportunities. To learn more, select to access Suspension
of Grants Funding Appeals Process notice.
Frequently Asked Questions on AHRQ and the Recovery Act are at http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/arrafaq.htm.
Return to Contents
Reporting Requirements for Recovery Act Funds
Every taxpayer dollar spent on our Nation's economic recovery must be subject to unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability. To ensure that the public receives as much information as possible on the implementation of the Recovery Act, Federal agencies and recipients of Recovery Act funding are required to report dozens of data elements. There are very specific reporting requirements for all recipients of funds provided through the Recovery Act.
Reporting for recipients of Recovery Act fund from AHRQ will occur on the Web site http://www.FederalReporting.gov. In addition, all AHRQ grantees are required to submit reports using AHRQ Research Reporting System, or ARRS, as specified in the terms of the award.
Reporting on FederalReporting.gov
Recipients and sub-recipients first post their data to http://www.FederalReporting.gov where AHRQ staff will verify it. On the 30th of the month, the data goes live for the public on the http://www.recovery.gov site. Accordingly, recipients will submit reports quarterly in October, January, April, and July.
The very first round of reporting for recipients begins October 1, 2009 and runs through October 10, 2010. Once recipients submit their first round of reports, Federal funding agencies will review them from October 22 to October 29. Data then goes live and recipient reports are available for public viewing on October 30 on http://www.recovery.gov. The next quarterly reporting period will begin on the 10th of January 2010 followed by April 2010, July 2010, and October 2010.
AHRQ recognizes that entities applying for funds under the Recovery Act will not necessarily be reporting on AHRQ awards until future reporting periods. However, organizations can still register at http://www.FederalReporting.gov and can begin learning about the reporting requirements.
Resources that may be helpful in understanding and completing reporting requirements are below.
Return to Contents
Key Announcements on Recovery Act Activities
Return to Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions on AHRQ and the Recovery Act are at http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/arrafaq.htm.
Return to Contents
Current as of September 2009
Internet Citation:
AHRQ and the Recovery Act. September 2009. http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/cefarra.htm
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850