Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health

Feb 28, 2022

PostpartumChallenge@hhs.gov

Online contact form

The Racial Equity in Postpartum Care Challenge is a prize competition to identify effective programs that can address equity of postpartum care for Black or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. An emphasis is on follow-up care for conditions associated with morbidity and mortality in the later postpartum period, including diabetes, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, hypertension, and substance use disorders (SUDs).

The goal of Phase 1 will be the identification of effective programs that can successfully increase access, attendance, and quality of care for postpartum visits for Black or African American and AI/AN beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.

Phase 2 will build upon the work of Phase 1 and evaluate whether the program was successfully replicated and/or expanded. Participants are expected to successfully replicate and/or expand the program:

• In another geographic area or a wider geographic area
• In a different clinical setting; and/or
• By increasing the size and/or reach of the program

Scoring criteria is listed on the judging tab.

Eligible participants include individuals, groups of individuals, and entities that meet the requirements listed below.

• Have registered to participate in the challenge
• Have complied with all the requirements in the announcement
• In the case of a private entity, is incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the U.S., and in the case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, is a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
• Not a federal entity or federal employee acting within the scope of employment
• Not a federal employee of the Department of Health and Human Services (or any other component of HHS) acting in a personal capacity
• If employed by a federal agency or entity other than HHS, consult with an agency ethics official to determine whether federal ethics rules will limit or prohibit the acceptance of a prize under the challenge
• Not a judge of the challenge, or any other party involved with the design, production, execution, or distribution of the challenge or the immediate family of such a party

Additional requirements are listed on the rules tab.

Nationwide

Phase 1: Up to 25 submissions may be selected to each receive a prize of up to $40,000.

Phase 2: Prize recipients in Phase 1 may compete for consideration to receive a prize in Phase 2. Up to 10 submissions may be selected to each receive a prize of up to $80,000.

Follow the instructions on the how to enter tab. Begin the process by sending a registration email to PostpartumChallenge@hhs.gov.

Deadlines:

• Phase 1: January 31, 2022
• Phase 2: February 28, 2023

Access · American Indian or Alaska Native · Behavioral health · Black or African American · Cardiovascular disease · Depression · Diabetes · Health disparities · Healthcare quality · Maternal health and prenatal care · Medicaid · Mortality · Women