Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model (93.968)
Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model (Assistance Listing 93.968) is run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It awarded $17.7 million in 7 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $2.5 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $2.5 million. Half of the 7 awards fell between $2.0 million and $3.2 million, and they ranged from $735,000 to $4.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$17.7 million
- Grant awards7
- Typical award$2.5 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$4.0 million
- Size rank1,351 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $2.5 million in fiscal 2021 to $4.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1351st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 7 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 7 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model (referred to as “AHEAD” or the “AHEAD Model”), is a voluntary, state-based alternative payment and service delivery model. It focuses on preventative care, empowering patients, protecting taxpayers, and increasing choice and competition. The AHEAD Model will test a flexible framework that includes statewide or sub-state accountability targets for: • All-payers and Medicare fee-for-service cost growth. • Primary care investment. • Population health outcomes.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Application to the NOFO will be open to all 50 US states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico
What the money can and cannot pay for
Cooperative Agreement funding will support the following activities: • Develop Health equity plan, and select state quality measures • Form state governance structure • Engage commercial payers, recruit hospitals • Establish All-Payer and Medicare TCOC growth targets and primary care investment targets • Identify eligible primary care providers for Primary Care AHEAD • Onboard to necessary CMS systems • Attend required learning events
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. N/A
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Application deadline will be 60 calendar days after the NOFO is published on grants.gov
Award range and average, in the agency's words
CMS will make a total of $12 million available to states or sub-state regions participating in States Advancing AHEAD for up to 8 states. Six states were awarded in 2024. A second NOFO will be issued in late 2025. Awardees will be able to select either a 18-month, or 30-month Pre-Implementation timeline based on their perceived readiness to implement the Model.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model (93.968) awarded $17.7 million across 7 grant awards, an average of $2.5 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Services Vermont Agency of | Vermont | 1 | $4.0 million |
| Maryland Department of Health | Maryland | 1 | $4.0 million |
| Department of Human Services Hawaii | Hawaii | 1 | $2.5 million |
| Office of Health Strategy | Connecticut | 1 | $2.5 million |
| Health & Human Services, Rhode Island Executive Office of | Rhode Island | 1 | $2.0 million |
| NYS Department of Health | New York | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Pennsylvania Department of Health | Pennsylvania | 1 | $735,000 |
Who usually wins
Almost all of the money went to state and local governments.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 7 | $17.7 million | 100% |
By state
6 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 1 | $4.0 million |
| Maryland | 1 | $4.0 million |
| Hawaii | 1 | $2.5 million |
| Connecticut | 1 | $2.5 million |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $2.0 million |
| New York | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $735,000 |