Find Nonprofit and Small Business Grants

Grants to USA and territories researchers and policymakers from nonprofit organizations and public entities for research related to costs of care discussions. A letter of inquiry is required prior to submission of a full application. Funding is intended to strengthen the evidence base on how to optimize cost conversations and integrate them into clinical practice more frequently.

The goal of the program is to conduct original research and test emerging best practices for increasing the frequency and quality of conversations about the costs of care. This work takes a broad definition of costs, including out-of-pocket costs to patients, and attention to indirect costs of receiving treatment, such as child care, time away from work, and transportation to medical appointments. The focus on cost conversations is in service to the Foundation’s broader goals for health equity: that all people in America have a fair and just opportunity to live a healthier life. To help ensure this, the medical care system can play its role in removing barriers to opportunity in one way, by devoting attention to financial hardship associated with receiving optimal care. 

Studies funded under this call for proposals should include attention to consumer perspectives, and attention to differential effects of interventions across populations at risk for health inequities, such as low-income populations, people of color, immigrants, and other groups who may experience discrimination. 

Specifically, this program intends to fund studies that can build the evidence base in order to advance the following goals:

• Providers and care teams become more effective at discussing costs of care and can connect patients with appropriate resources to make care more affordable.
• Patients feel supported by provider systems in addressing cost concerns when they make care decisions, have a financial need, and/or need to plan for upcoming costs.
• Policymakers and health care leaders are aware of the barriers that current policy creates in supporting cost conversations, and know what to do to address those barriers.

Grant funds may be used for project staff salaries, consultant fees, data collection and analysis, meetings, supplies, project-related travel, and other direct project expenses, including a limited amount of equipment essential to the project.