Notice Number: NOT-DA-16-017

Key Dates
Release Date: March 22, 2016

Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to update the specific area of research interest for PA-15-253
"Health Services and Economic Research on the Prevention and Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Abuse (R21)".

Current language:

Part 2. Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Specific Areas of Research Interest

Economics Research Rigorous studies that rely on the theories and methods of economics ultimately directed at providing findings to inform practice or policy. For example, studies of the causal effects of health care benefit design, and payment mechanism and regulations on access, utilization, quality, and outcomes of services, are needed to inform future advances in those areas. Behavioral economic research investigating individuals’ decisions to enter and remain in treatment are needed to inform the design of services and the development of optimal coverage policies. Cost and production function studies across settings that can determine how to provide high-quality services most efficiently, what such services cost, and how costs vary by various patient, provider, and environmental characteristics, are needed to inform the establishment of appropriate reimbursement rates. Economic evaluations, including cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, and budget impact analyses, are needed to inform the adoption of evidence-based interventions. Research on these and other topics relevant to the optimization of service delivery, is sought and may employ a broad array of applied, theoretical, and econometric methods including, but not limited to, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, analyses of natural experiments, secondary analyses of existing data sources, dynamic simulation models, or descriptive studies that facilitate the development of economic theory, empirically-testable hypotheses, or future experimental research. Multidisciplinary economics research integrating concepts, tools, and methods from multiple relevant disciplines, is also encouraged.

Revised language:

Part 2. Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Specific Areas of Research Interest

Economics Research NIDA seeks rigorous studies that rely on the theories and methods of economics in which health-related behaviors and outcomes are the primary focus, and the connection between the subjects of the study and improved understanding of health are clear and explicit. For example, economic studies of the causal effects of health care benefit design, payment mechanisms, delivery system innovations, and regulations on access, utilization, quality, and outcomes of services are needed to inform future advances in those areas. Economic studies of the implementation, adherence, dissemination, and adoption of new treatments and medical discoveries may help them reach their greatest practical and sustained potential. Behavioral economic research investigating individuals’ decisions to enter and remain in treatment, and practitioners’ decisions about what treatment to provide, are needed to inform the design of more effective services. Research on these and other topics relevant to the optimization of service delivery, is sought and may employ a broad array of applied, theoretical, and econometric methods including, but not limited to, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, analyses of natural experiments, secondary analyses of existing data sources, dynamic simulation models, or descriptive studies that facilitate the development of economic theory, empirically-testable hypotheses, or future experimental research. Multidisciplinary economics research integrating concepts, tools, and methods from multiple relevant disciplines, is also encouraged. For more on NIH priorities for economics research see NOT-OD-16-025.

All other aspects of this FOA remain unchanged.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Sarah Duffy, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-443-6504
Email: duffys@nida.nih.gov