States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is announcing the opportunity to apply to participate in the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development Model (referred to as “AHEAD” or the “AHEAD Model”), including availability of Cooperative Agreement funding of up to $12 million per award recipient. State Medicaid agencies, state public health agencies, and other state agencies may apply to participate in AHEAD on behalf of their states.

The AHEAD Model is a voluntary, state-based alternative payment and service delivery model designed to curb health care cost growth, improve population health, and advance health equity by reducing disparities in health outcomes. The AHEAD Model will test a flexible framework that includes statewide or sub-state accountability targets for all-payer and Medicare fee-for-service cost growth, primary care investment, and equity and population health outcomes. The Model will include specific components to help each award recipient to achieve these goals, including an initial investment via the Cooperative Agreement award to support planning and implementation activities, Medicare fee-for-service and Medicaid hospital global budgets for participating hospitals, and a primary care program for participating primary care practices.

The AHEAD Model will operate for 11 years (2024-2034). Applicants must select one of three Cohorts to participate in based on their stage of readiness to implement the Model. CMS will select, via a competitive process, up to eight award recipients. Up to $12 million in Cooperative Agreement award funding will be available to each selected award recipient over the course of up to six years. The Model will conclude for all Cohorts on December 31, 2034.