Improving Management of Opioids and Opioid Use Disorder in Older Adults

For scientific or research questions:
Elisabeth Kato
301.427.1568
Elisabeth.Kato@AHRQ.hhs.gov

For peer review:
Ying Tian, M.D., Ph.D.
301.427.1530
Ying.Tian@AHRQ.hhs.gov

For financial or grants management questions:
Nicole Williams
301-427-1015
Nicole.Williams@AHRQ.hhs.gov

This program provides funding to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate strategies to improve the management of opioid use and opioid use disorder (OUD) in older adults in primary care settings, especially in settings with large segments of socially at-risk older adults.

Specific activities or tools may include, but are not limited to:

For patients for whom prescription of opioids may be considered:

• Use of shared decision-making to support patient involvement in assessment of risk and benefits of treatment options
• Use of multi-modal pain management approaches
• Use of risk mitigation strategies
• Use of other strategies to guide prescribing that mitigate risk for misuse or development of OUD

For patients who are currently prescribed opioids for acute or chronic pain:

• Assessing whether opioid treatment is effective and whether the dose and duration is optimal
• Use of shared decision-making to support patient involvement in assessment of risk and benefits of other available treatment options
• Monitoring opioid use and identifying risk factors to prevent adverse events, misuse, diversion, or OUD
• Determining whether tapering is appropriate and, if so, tapering and ensuring effective multimodal pain management
• Identification of the presence of opioid misuse or OUD in older adults, whether on prescription opioid therapy or not, and providing effective treatment

AHRQ supports research, evaluations, and demonstration projects concerning the delivery of healthcare in inner-city and rural areas (including frontier areas), and healthcare for priority populations. Priority populations include low income groups, minority groups, women, children, the elderly, and individuals with special healthcare needs, including individuals with disabilities and individuals who need chronic care or end-of-life healthcare.

Eligible applicants include:

• Higher education institutions
  • Public/state controlled institutions
  • Private institutions
• Nonprofit organizations
  • With 501(c)(3) status
  • Without 501(c)(3) status
  • Native American tribal organizations
  • Faith-based or community-based organizations
  • Regional organizations
• Governments
  • State
  • County
  • City or township
  • Special districts
  • Federally recognized Indian/Native American tribal governments
  • Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized)
  • Eligible agencies of the federal government
  • U.S. territory or possession

Total costs may not exceed $833,000 in any year and $2,500,000 for the entire 3-year project period.

Links to the full announcement and online application process are available through grants.gov.

While not required, potential applicants are encouraged to email a letter of intent to Elisabeth Kato by January 21, 2020.