Funding Opportunity Number - HRSA-22-107
Eligibility
What types of community-based ambulatory patient care centers are eligible for THCPD funding?
Specific examples of eligible outpatient settings include, but are not limited to:
- Federally qualified health centers
- Community mental health centers
- Rural health clinics
- Health centers operated by the Indian Health Service, an Indian tribe or tribal organization, or an urban Indian organization
- An entity receiving funds under Title X of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act
Note: List of entities above is not exhaustive, but does reflect the intent of the program to provide training in community-based ambulatory patient care centers such as those served by the entities listed.
What types of residency programs are eligible for THCPD funding?
The THCPD NOFO offers funding to support the development of new accredited primary care residency programs in:
- Family medicine
- Internal medicine
- Pediatrics
- Internal medicine-pediatrics
- Psychiatry
- Obstetrics
- Gynecology
- General dentistry
- Pediatric dentistry
- Geriatrics
Note: No other specialties will be considered for THCPD funding.
Are existing Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) award recipients eligible to apply for THCPD funding?
Yes. Existing THCGME award recipients are eligible to apply for THCPD funding to establish new primary care residency programs that are not currently funded by the THCGME program.
Does an applicant have to be a current THCGME award recipient to be eligible for THCPD funding?
No. While current THCGME award recipients are eligible to apply for THCPD funding to support a new, non-THCGME supported residency program specialty/specialties, THCPD applicants are not required to be current THCGME award recipients.
Are teaching hospitals and academic institutions eligible for THCPD funding?
No. Entities that are not community-based ambulatory patient care centers, such as teaching hospitals, health care systems and/or networks, and academic institutions are not eligible to receive THCPD funding.
However, a community-based ambulatory patient care center may propose to form a community-based GME consortium with stakeholders (e.g., academic health centers, universities and/or medical schools, teaching hospitals) where the GME consortium will serve as the institutional sponsor of an accredited primary care residency program.
The relationship between the community-based ambulatory patient care center and the consortium must be legally binding, and the agreement establishing the relationship must describe the roles and responsibilities of each entity.
Note: Expenses associated with establishing a consortium are not an allowable cost.
Does a community-based GME consortium have to be established prior to the THCPD application submission?
No. A community-based GME consortium may be established after you submit the THCPD application if you meet the community-based ambulatory patient care center eligibility requirement as noted in Section III of the THCPD NOFO.
Application must propose a plan for an eligible community-based ambulatory patient care center or a community-based GME consortium to develop a new accredited residency program.
Note: Expenses associated with establishing a consortium are not an allowable cost.
Are programs that have already received program accreditation eligible to apply for THCPD funding?
Programs that will achieve ACGME or CODA accreditation by August 30, 2021 (application due date), are not eligible for THCPD funding.
Programs that have achieved ACGME or CODA accreditation may consider applying for THCGME funding (HRSA-22-105) to support resident full-time equivalent (FTE) training beginning in July 2022 (AY 2022-2023).
Are existing THCGME award recipients that want to establish a Rural Training Track (RTT) eligible to apply for THCPD funding?
Yes. Existing THCGME award recipients that want to establish a RTT are eligible to apply for THCPD funding if the RTT has not received accreditation by the application due date.
Are Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) eligible to apply for the THCPD funding?
Yes. CCBHCs are eligible to apply for the THCPD funding if the CCBHC will operate an accredited primary care residency program or has collaborated to form a community-based GME consortium that will operate an accredited primary care residency program.
You should propose a plan to operate, or coordinate with others to operate, a primary care residency program.
Are multiple THCPD applications allowable?
Yes. Multiple THCPD applications from an organization are allowable.
Entities seeking THCPD funding to establish multiple new residency programs MUST submit a separate application for each individual residency program.
You should include a unique name for each training program in the project abstract to differentiate between applications.
Each application will be scored separately.
Accreditation
What is the accreditation application process?
Direct questions pertaining to the accreditation process to the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
As attainment of accreditation for the residency program is expected by the end of the period of performance, (i.e. on or before November 30, 2023), which entity is required to be the institutional sponsor for the accreditation?
You must list the eligible community-based ambulatory patient care center or community-based GME consortium as the institutional sponsor by the relevant accrediting body and must be named on the program’s accreditation documentation.
The community-based ambulatory patient care center (e.g., FQHC, rural health clinic, etc.) is expected to play an integral role in the academic, financial, and administrative operations of the residency within a GME consortium.
THCPD funding must be used to support residency planning and development activities at the community-based ambulatory training site.
Are programs that have obtained an accreditation for the sponsoring institution but have not yet received accreditation for the residency program eligible to apply for THCPD funding?
Yes. Residency programs with an accredited sponsoring institution but without residency program accreditation by the THCPD application due date (August 30, 2021) are eligible to apply for THCPD funding.
Are entities eligible to apply for THCPD funding if it is anticipated that the residency program will be accredited after the application due date (August 30, 2021) but before the period of performance begins (December 1, 2021)?
Yes. Entities may apply for THCPD funding if they anticipate that the residency program will be accredited between the application due date and the start of the period of performance.
THCPD funding may be used for curriculum development; recruitment, training, and retention of residents and faculty; and faculty salaries during the development phase.
THCPD funds may be used to support resident stipends for a period of up to one year during the 2-year project period after accreditation.
Funding/Budget
How can THCPD funds be used?
THCPD program funds may be used to support the costs of establishing a community-based residency program.
This includes costs for curriculum development, recruitment, training, and retention of residents and faculty, and resident stipends (after accreditation is achieved) for up to one year during the 2-year performance period; accreditation by the ACGME or CODA; and faculty salaries during the development phase.
What type of consulting services would be considered allowable costs?
Consulting services may include the costs of consultants that support:
- Curriculum development and recruitment
- Training and retention of residents and faculty
- Accreditation by the ACGME or CODA - if such costs are otherwise allowable under the cost principles at 45 C.F.R. part 75.
Will THCPD program funding recipients receive THCGME payments to support resident training in future academic years?
No. While the THCPD NOFO provides funds to establish new primary care residency programs in community-based ambulatory patient care centers, the THCGME payment program funds are made available through a separate authorization, appropriation and NOFO application process.
Note: Once a new community-based primary care residency program is accredited, it may be eligible to apply for future funding opportunities to participate in the THCGME program, subject to available appropriations and applicable eligibility criteria. Receiving funds from the THCPD program does not guarantee receiving funds from the THCGME program.
What is the indirect cost rate?
You may use your organization’s negotiated indirect cost rate or the minimum rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC) if your organization does not have a negotiated rate.
Refer to 45 CFR 75.414 Indirect (F&A) costs for more information.
Contact Cost Allocation Services if you would like to negotiate a rate.
Note: The process to negotiate a rate does take some time; therefore, you may not be able to negotiate a rate before the due date for this announcement.
What if a THCPD recipient does not utilize all THCPD funds during the 2-year period of performance?
You may request prior approval for a no-cost extension if you need more time to complete your objectives before the end of the budget period.
Are the costs associated with establishing a consortium allowable?
No. Expenses associated with establishing a consortium are not allowable.