CDC-RFA-DP-23-0003: WISEWOMAN: Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation of WOMen Across the Nation

Notice of Funding Opportunity: WISEWOMAN: Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation of WOMen Across the Nation

DP-23-0003 Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement

The Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation of Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program is at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to improve cardiovascular health for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured participants. Congress authorized the WISEWOMAN program in 1993 to extend the preventive health services offered to participants of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP).

This 5-year cooperative agreement will support implementation and evaluation of a core set of evidence-based strategies proven to reduce heart disease and stroke rates through early detection and treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol in low-income, uninsured, and underinsured participants ages 35 to 64.

An applicant must propose a comprehensive work plan for year one and a high-level work plan for all years of the project that addresses hypertension in alignment with the broad evidence-based, evidence-informed strategies indicated. There must be a demonstration of how key health equity concepts: health inequities and disparities, social determinants, and unfair opportunity structures, factor into the design and implementation of program activities.

This NOFO requires that an applicant collaborates with partners with expertise and services to address the social needs of participants to promote blood pressure control and other healthy behaviors.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be recipients of National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) funding, per Congressional statute, Title XV, Section 1509 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 300n-4a). Section 1502 of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 300l) and the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 117-328, Div. H).

WISEWOMAN is authorized under NBCCEDP to expand screening services inclusive of cardiovascular risk. WISEWOMAN program participants must be eligible for NBCCEDP to receive WISEWOMAN services; therefore, only organizations who are currently receiving NBCCEDP awards may apply. Current recipients of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program are available at: https://nccd.cdc.gov/dcpc_Programs/index.aspx#/1

Strategies

Successful applicants will be expected to implement activities designed to achieve the short, intermediate, and long term outcomes specified in this NOFO that are in alignment with the following broad strategy categories:

• Strategy 1: Track and Monitor Clinical Measures Shown to Improve Health and Wellness, Health Care Quality, and Identify Patients at Risk of and with CVD, Particularly Hypertension.
• Strategy 2: Implement Team-Based Care to Prevent and Reduce CVD Risk with a Focus on Hypertension Prevention, Detection, Control, and Management through the Mitigation of Social Support Barriers to Improve Outcomes.
• Strategy 3: Link Community Resources and Clinical Services that Support Comprehensive Bidirectional Referral and Follow-up Systems Aimed at Mitigating Social Support Barriers and Supporting Participation in and Completion of Lifestyle Change Programs for Participants at Risk of and with CVD.

Outcomes

Short Term Outcomes by Strategy:

Strategy 1:

• Increased number of under- and uninsured participants, ages 35-64, who receive CVD risk assessment.
• Increased use of electronic health records (EHR) and health information technology (HIT) to query, monitor, and track clinical and social services and support needs data for improved identification, management, and treatment of participants at risk of CVD, particularly hypertension.
• Increased use of standardized processes or tools to identify, assess, track, and address the social services and support needs of participants.
• Increased use of metrics from program data to guide quality improvement activities to increase program enrollment, retention, and referrals to additional services.
• Increased use of EHR, HIT, or program data to identify health care disparities and address health outcomes within their WISEWOMAN population.

Strategy 2:

• Increased use of multidisciplinary care teams adhering to evidence-based guidelines to address patient needs.
• Increased multidisciplinary partnerships with a network of state, regional, and local social services and support.

Strategy 3:

• Increased data sharing and utilization through a bidirectional feedback mechanism.
• Increased referrals to evidence-based and evidence-informed healthy behavior support services (HBSS).
• Increased participation in and completion of HBSS.
• Increased referrals to and utilization of social services and support.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Improved blood pressure control among WISEWOMAN participants.
• Reduced disparities in blood pressure control among WISEWOMAN participants.
• Increased utilization of social services and support among WISEWOMAN participants at high risk of CVD.

Long term Outcomes:

• Improved cardiovascular health.
• Reduced disparities in cardiovascular health.