State (and U. S. Territorial) Health Department Request for Technical Assistance (RTA): Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop Applications due: (December 1, 2014) at 11:59 pm ET I. Purpose: The purpose of this request for technical assistance is to implement a Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop and provide follow-up assistance. NACDD has technical expertise and resources to support up to three state health departments (SHDs) (pending funding) through June 30, 2015. The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) seeks applications from state and territorial chronic disease programs wanting to implement a Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop and receive follow up technical assistance for up to one year. NACDD will provide technical assistance, support, and linkages to the Million Hearts initiative, and additional technical assistance resources as available, to SHDs to assist in the implementation of these workshops. The outcome of this RFP will be to assist states in aligning partner goals and activities to the hypertensionrelated activities in the CDC-RFA-DP13-1305 State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health (referred to as the coordinated FOA 1305). Applications for this request for technical assistance must submitted to NACDD by December 1, 2014, 11:59 pm ET. This technical assistance request does not provide direct funding to the SHDs; however, a contract agreement via a memorandum of understanding 1
(MOU) on the deliverables outlined below, will be processed between NACDD and the three SHDs selected for this award. Up to three SHDs will be selected to participate in this technical assistance effort. Anticipated outcomes of this technical assistance and the Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop include the following: 1. SHDs and their partners have a better understanding of Million Hearts and how it aligns with the work the states have been asked to carry out under the coordinated FOA 1305. 2. States have concrete action steps outlined and have identified a process for carrying out those action steps with their partners. 3. Organizations partnering with states will take definitive actions to improve hypertension control in their patient or covered populations. 4. SHDs and their partners have implemented plans to improve blood pressure among their population or a sub-set of the population. 5. Lessons learned about opportunities, successes, challenges, barriers to controlling blood pressure at a population level shared in a best practice/success story document. II. Background on Million Hearts : Million Hearts is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017, and is co-led by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), with support from other Department of Health and Human Services agencies. Achieving this goal means that 10 million more Americans must have their blood pressure under control. Million Hearts is working to reach this goal through clinical approaches, such as using health information technology to its fullest potential and integrating team-based approaches to care, as well as community approaches, such as strengthening tobacco control, reducing smoking, and improving nutrition through decreased sodium and artificial trans-fat consumption. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers play a key role in helping Americans control their blood pressure. A key component of promoting Million Hearts in your state is by engaging partners to address the ABCS, either as part of a statewide coalition, or through independent initiatives. One way to enhance partner engagement 2
is by sponsoring a one-day Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop. This workshop will brings partners together to focus on one or two aspects of Million Hearts related issues, to scan the landscape of current activities in the state, to learn about successful approaches others have used, to identify assets and opportunities, and to develop a set of strategies and priorities and the beginning of an action plan. State Health Departments can use a Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop to enhance their activities in Health System Interventions (Domain 3) and Community-Clinical Linkages (Domain 4) as outlined in the CDC Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health; CDC-RFA-DP13-1305 (SPHA/1305.) Selecting a focus area for the Workshop that aligns with Million Hearts and with SPHA/1305, such as improving hypertension control in the primary care setting, or reducing sodium in the retail food environment, allows the state to engage specific partners in these endeavors, and work with those partners on new strategies. III. Applicants: Chronic Disease Programs in state or territorial departments of public health are eligible to apply for this technical assistance award. Previous applicants who applied, but were not awarded, are eligible to apply, but must submit a new application. States and territories that are eligible to apply include: Alaska Arizona Connecticut Delaware Florida Hawaii Idaho Indiana Kentucky Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Mississippi Montana Nebraska New Jersey North Carolina Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Utah Washington West Virginia Wyoming American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands 3
States that have previously implemented a state Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop with support from NACDD or with funds from other sources are not eligible to apply include: California Colorado Iowa Illinois Maryland Michigan Missouri New Mexico Pennsylvania Texas Vermont Wisconsin States that receive funding from ASTHO s Million Hearts State Learning Collaborative Focus on Hypertension Identification, Control and Improvement funding opportunity are not eligible to apply include: Alabama Arkansas Georgia Illinois Kansas Maryland Michigan Minnesota New Hampshire New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Virginia Washington DC IV. NACDD Technical Assistance Commitment to States: Direct funding is not available for states through this agreement, only technical assistance with the statewide implementation of a Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop, with follow-up assistance with implementation of selected strategies. NACDD commits to providing the following technical assistance services to the selected states: 1. Develop an evaluation plan for the project that includes both shortterm, process questions for each Workshop, as well as long-term questions on the outcomes of the newly engaged partners activities including any improvements in hypertension control rates. 2. Assist up to three state health departments in convening a Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshops of diverse stakeholders to implement a shared agenda/strategic plan that promotes effective strategies such as greater use of team-based care or health information technology and support the launch of shared work on key strategies. Activities to convene the workshops include: 4
a. Assist in developing a planning committee through conference calls with the SHD routinely as determined by the planning team. b. Assist with agenda development, speaker identification, selection of strategies to be presented, invitations to potential participants and identifying key stakeholders (including QIOs, insurers, hospitals, primary care providers) that will include statewide or local agencies able to successfully address hypertension control through high-impact initiatives specific to each state (see examples of evidence-based strategies under Approach ) c. Facilitate workshop d. De-brief with state health department staff and prepare next steps 3. Assist up to three state health departments in initiating workgroups, with partners, to address the priority strategies on hypertension control discussed during the Stakeholders Workshop that will build on efforts by other states and partners to identify specific strategies, performance measures, and models for improving blood pressure control across the population 4. Conduct a process evaluation of each workshop and commit to participating in NACDD-led outcome evaluation post workshop. 5. Provide ongoing, extensive technical assistance to up to three states post-workshop based on the identified needs of the state to further cardiovascular disease improvement goals, particularly the improvement of blood pressure control and to increase the states engagement with the health care system, providers and payors. Technical assistance can include phone consultation, web-based support, referrals, access to supporting documentation, and other support as determined. 6. Assist states with developing a best practice/success story focusing on partnership collaboration and coordination and strategic planning to improve blood pressure control. V. State Deliverables: Selected states agree to the following list of deliverables: 1. Collaborate with NACDD to develop an evaluation plan for the project that includes short-term process questions for each Workshop. The SHD 5
will commit to participating in any NACDD-led outcomes evaluation post workshop. 2. Collaborate with NACDD and convene a Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop of diverse stakeholders to identify a shared agenda/strategic plan that promotes effective strategies such as greater use of teambased care or health information technology and support the launch of shared work on key strategies. Activities to convene the workshops include: a. Participate in the planning committee through conference calls with NACDD routinely as determined by the planning team. b. Locate and arrange for a facility to convene the workshop (note; this local planning activity should include all recommendations and or arrangements for local attendees, including the workshop facility and any needed arrangements for hotels and meals either supported or funded by the state or partners or the local attendees themselves). c. Consider any available funds, either internal or external to the SHD, to provide travel reimbursement to key state or community partners to attend the workshop. d. Assist with agenda development, speaker identification, selection of strategies to be presented, invitations to potential participants and identifying key stakeholders (including QIOs, insurers, hospitals, primary care providers) that will include statewide or local agencies able to successfully address hypertension control through high impact initiatives specific to each state. e. Participate in the workshop. f. De-brief with NACDD staff and prepare next steps. 3. Collaborate with NACDD in initiating workgroups to address the priority strategies on hypertension control discussed during the Stakeholders Workshop that will build on efforts by other states and partners to identify specific strategies, performance measures, and models for improving blood pressure control across the population 4. Complete a process evaluation of the workshop. 5. Participate in ongoing, extensive technical assistance pre and post workshop to further cardiovascular disease improvement goals, particularly the improvement of blood pressure control and to increase capacities to engage with the health care system, providers and payors. 6
6. Collaborate with NACDD in developing a best practice/success story focusing on partnership collaboration and coordination and strategic planning to improve blood pressure control. 7. Collaborate with NACDD on the development of a technical assistance plan for the state based on identified needs and evaluation results. Given the focus of Million Hearts is both the health care system and linkages between the clinical and community settings, it is important to consider a variety of stakeholders to attend the initial Million Hearts workshop. Stakeholders to consider include, but are not limited to, the following: Local health departments Community health centers/chc networks Health systems Hospital systems Health insurers private and Medicaid Health insurance exchange Health information exchange/health Information Organizations Organization focused on statewide health care reform Managed care organization Area Health Education Centers State Business Group on Health Although funding is not provided through this award, states will be required to complete the list of deliverables in order to be selected and considered for possible future funding. VI. Scoring Criteria: NACDD will review and score all applications based on the following criteria. 1. Application includes collaboration with NACDD to develop an evaluation plan for the project that includes short-term, process questions and outcome evaluation for each. (15%). 2. Application demonstrates need for Domain 3 partner engagement. (15%). 7
3. Application demonstrates collaboration plans with NACDD to convene a Million Hearts Stakeholders Workshop of diverse stakeholders to implement a shared agenda/strategic plan that aligns with current SPHA/1305 efforts and includes a detailed plan for how to assist in the required activities (25%). 4. Application demonstrates clear collaboration strategies to implement specific strategies, performance measures, and models for improving blood pressure control across the population (10%) 5. Application demonstrates how the applicant plans to participate in ongoing, extensive technical assistance post-workshop (10%). 6. Application demonstrates commitment in collaborating with NACDD in developing a best practice/success story within the project year (10%). 7. Application includes plans to collaborate with NACDD on the development of a technical assistance plan for the state based on identified needs and evaluation results (15%). VII. Project Period: NACDD expects to announce technical assistance awards by December 15, 2014. Once notified, NACDD will collaborate with the selected states to determine the most appropriate timing for the workshop and will begin the contracting process. All Stakeholder Workshops and must be completed by June 30, 2015. Workshops must be convened on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between March 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015. The final determination of the exact timing for each individual selected state workshop will be negotiated based on discussions and scheduling for all three states. VIII. Request for Technical Assistance Application Requirements 1. Applications exceeding seven single-spaced pages will not be reviewed. 2. Late applications (electronically stamped by the sender after (December 1, 2014, by 11:59 pm ET) will not be accepted by NACDD. 3. Font size no smaller than 11-point Times New Roman, single-spaced. 4. Include page numbers and section headings in application. 5. Hard copy and fax applications will not be accepted. Applications must be emailed to NACDD at careers.nacdd@chronicdisease.org with the 8
subject line: Million Hearts Stakeholder s Workshop Request for Technical Assistance Application IX. Application Content/Requirements: 1. Cover Letter on Letter head that includes (two pages): Official Name of the state health department and the following: Name (Chronic Disease Director): Address: Telephone#: Email Address: Name (Domain 3/HDSP Lead): Title: Address: Telephone#: Email Address: Program Lead, even if duplicate of above (1): Title: Address: Telephone#: Email Address: Finance Lead (2): Title: Address: Telephone#: Email Address: Identify individual/vendor who must sign the agreement (3): Title: Address: Telephone#: Email Address: 2. Narrative description describing (no more than two pages): 9
a. Describe the need for the technical assistance to support a stakeholder s workshop including barriers and or challenges to Domain 3 (Health Systems Interventions) and partner engagement experienced in your state. Describe the need to implement strategies that multiple partners can support, and need to increase partner understanding of Million Hearts. Describe the state s readiness to implement a workshop including that of state staff and leadership and commitment of key partners. b. List of stakeholders currently working in collaboration with the state on cardiovascular or Domain 3 programming and a list of proposed partners. c. Capacity of lead contact and workforce capabilities to meet the timeline. d. Commitment to participate in this technical assistance offer and commitment to meet all the deliverables. 3. Proposed activities (no more than three pages): a. Provide an anticipated timeline of technical assistance needs and timing for the proposed stakeholders workshop. Refer to Section VIII. Request for Technical Assistance Application Requirements when developing timeline and activities. (Note that if selected, timing of the date may change.) b. Demonstrate state and partner commitment by providing a list of available resources that will be dedicated to the workshop that augment the technical assistance support from NACDD, including any support offered by partners. Specifically, states must include a description of how they intend to secure a meeting facility and a plan inviting partners. Other required state support includes a list or description of specific staffing dedicated to the workshop, leadership support, meeting logistics, funding to implement the workshop, in-kind support, travel support for local or state partners, and other resources necessary for successful workshop implementation. X. Submission Process: Submit application as one Word document to: careers.nacdd@chronicdisease.org 10
XI. Selection Process/Timeline: NACDD will make a determination and notify selected states by the week of December 15, 2014. An orientation call will be convened with the principal parties listed in the application including the fiscal officer upon notification of selection to review deliverables and process for contracting once selected. All applicants should hold December 19 th from 3:00 4:30p ET on their calendar. Call in instructions will be shared with the selected states upon notification. XII. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): NACDD will implement a MOU with selected states for the technical assistance to be provided as well as the SHDs deliverables and timelines based on feedback from states. XIII. For more info contact: Questions will be accepted until November 25, 2014. Please direct those to: Jennie Hefelfinger at Hefelfinger@chronicdisease.org. Please use the title: Million Hearts Technical Assistance Application A Bidder s Webinar is planned for October 27 th at 3:00 pm ET to provide more information and to ask specific questions regarding this technical assistance opportunity. Please see below for call in instructions: Date: October 27, 2014 at 3:00 4:00 pm ET. The webinar will be recorded. You must register to join the bidder s webinar. Please reserve your webinar seat now at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/903654439 INSTRUCTIONS: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. When you are ready to join the webinar, click on the link provided in your confirmation email or reminder email. 11