The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is offering funding opportunities for the Telehealth Rapid Response Center (HRSA-25-044) and the Telehealth Research Center (HRSA-25-045) under the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT). These cooperative agreements aim to expand the evidence base for telehealth services, focusing on underserved populations in the United States. The primary goal is to support research that informs policymakers, providers, and stakeholders about telehealth disparities, access, regulatory policies, and effectiveness.

The Telehealth Rapid Response Center (HRSA-25-044) is designed to conduct rapid telehealth data analyses and short-term, issue-specific research studies. This center will provide critical information to stakeholders on the impact of telehealth policies and regulations. It will also maintain a national repository of telehealth-related datasets, offering timely data analysis for decision-makers. The center is expected to produce at least four high-quality studies per year on emerging telehealth issues and respond quickly (within 5-10 business days) to data analysis requests from telehealth stakeholders.

The Telehealth Research Center (HRSA-25-045) focuses on conducting clinically informed and policy-relevant health services research. The center will analyze the comparative effectiveness, cost implications, and impact of telehealth services on healthcare delivery. It will conduct five in-depth research projects annually, targeting rural and underserved populations. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and other dissemination channels to contribute to the broader telehealth evidence base.

The total expected funding available for Fiscal Year 2025 is $950,000 per center, with each program receiving a single cooperative agreement award. The awards will cover a five-year period of performance from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2030. The funding is contingent upon congressional appropriations and may be subject to change.

Eligible applicants include public and private non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, independent school districts, Native American tribal organizations, and special district governments. However, individuals are not eligible to apply. There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements for this program.

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by April 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The HRSA anticipates announcing awards by August 1, 2025, with funded projects beginning September 1, 2025. Applicants should ensure they are registered in SAM.gov and Grants.gov before applying. A technical assistance webinar will be provided at a later date, with updates posted on Grants.gov.

The evaluation of applications will be based on several criteria, including the need for the project, proposed methodology, research impact, organizational capabilities, and budget justification. Each center must demonstrate strong expertise in telehealth research, policy analysis, and data management. Applications exceeding page limits or failing to meet eligibility criteria will not be considered.

For program-related inquiries, applicants can contact Stephanie Miller (smiller3@hrsa.gov, 301-443-3348). For financial and budget-related questions, they may reach out to Reginal Baker (rbaker@hrsa.gov, 301-945-3937). Additional guidance and application resources are available on HRSA’s official website.