NIHCM: Policy Research Grants

National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation: Policy Research Grants

Award: up to $50,000
Deadline: June 8, 2026
Interested? Notify [email protected] for more information. All LOI documents will be due to our office by June 1, 2026

Link to full Request For Proposal

Overview

Funder seeks to support investigator-initiated policy research that builds the evidence base and has the potential to inform strategies that improve the affordability, accessibility, and quality of health care in the US.

Proposals should align with one or more of the following issue areas:

Health Care Costs & Quality: Understanding the key drivers of rising health care spending and the implications for access to care, quality, and health outcomes. The effectiveness of state and federal policies implemented to control costs, as well as interventions aimed at reducing low value care.
Health Care Consolidation: How health care competition, consolidation, and ownership across the health care system are impacting costs, access, provider workforce dynamics, quality of care, and patient outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence: The impacts of artificial intelligence in health care, including opportunities for cost savings, reduced administrative burden, increased access to care, and improved health outcomes, as well as the potential challenges around spending, increased coding intensity, and quality control.
Prescription Drugs & Technology: The implications of technology and drug prices on spending, utilization, and health outcomes, and the effectiveness of public and private sector policies and innovations to improve patient outcomes and access, while managing the cost of care.
Rural Health: Challenges and opportunities facing rural health systems and communities around health care costs, access, consolidation, and quality. The impact of state and federal policies and innovations to improve health care in rural areas, including telehealth, workforce development, and care coordination and delivery.
Maternal Health: Understanding the drivers of — and disparities in — maternal health (including postpartum) and infant health outcomes and how public and private sector policies and initiatives impact maternal health care delivery, access to high-value care, health outcomes, and costs.

Important Information

Funder seeks projects that will produce new insights, data analysis, and evidence that are relevant to health plans, policymakers, health care delivery systems, and/or related stakeholders.

Process

This is a two-step application process.

  • The Letter of Intent (LOI/step 1) is managed by the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations.
  • If you would like to apply, email [email protected] for more details and an LOI worksheet.
  • Submit the completed LOI worksheet by June 1, 2026.
  • If invited to submit a full proposal (step 2), it will be managed by the Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA).