Area Health Education Centers

The Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program enhances access to high quality health care through academic-community partnerships. The goal of the AHEC Program is three fold: (1) to prepare a diverse primary care workforce representative of the co

The Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program enhances access to high quality health care through academic-community partnerships. The goal of the AHEC Program is three fold: (1) to prepare a diverse primary care workforce representative of the communities served; (2) to improve health workforce distribution through the nation, particularly among rural and underserved areas and population; and (3) to develop and maintain a healthcare workforce that is prepared to deliver high quality care in a transforming health care delivery system with emphasis on rural and underserved areas and communities.

Entities eligible to apply for AHEC Infrastructure Development awards under 751(a)(1) are public or nonprofit private accredited schools of allopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine and incorporated consortia made up of such schools, or the parent institutions of such schools. In states and territories in which no AHEC program is in operation, an accredited school of nursing is an eligible applicant. An entity eligible to apply for AHEC Point of Service Maintenance and Enhancement awards under section 751 (a) (2) means an entity has received funds under this section (751), is operating an area health education center program, including an area health education center or centers, and has a center or centers that are no longer eligible to receive financial assistance under subsection (a)(1). Eligible entities are accredited public or nonprofit schools of allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine, the parent institution on behalf of such schools, and accredited schools of nursing, which have received funds under section 751 to operate an AHEC program. Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government and Native American Organizations may apply if they are otherwise eligible.

Beneficiaries include a full range of trainees: high school students from underrepresented minority populations or from disadvantaged or rural backgrounds, health professions students, and practicing health professionals.

Funds shall be used to recruit individuals from underrepresented, disadvantaged, or rural backgrounds into the health professions; establish and maintain community-based placements or preceptorships with an emphasis on primary care; conduct interdisciplinary/interprofessional training involving an array of health professionals; deliver or facilitate continuing education; propose and implement outcomes measurement and evaluation strategies.

Not less than 75 percent of the total amount provided to an AHEC Program under subsection 751(a) (2) shall be allocated to the AHEC centers participating in the program. The aggregate number of awards to schools in the state for the fiscal year under Point of Service Maintenance and Enhancement AHEC authority shall be not less than $103,000 annually per AHEC center, including program office funds. If amounts appropriated to carry out Section 751 are not sufficient to comply with the amount stated in the preceding sentence, the Secretary may reduce the per center amount as necessary. Indirect costs under training awards will be budgeted and reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement and are not subject to upward or downward adjustment.

AHEC provides support for a five-year project period.

Procedures for assessing the technical merit of grant applications have been instituted to provide an objective review of applications and to assist the applicant in understanding the standards against which each application will be judged. Critical indicators have been developed for each review criterion to assist the applicant in presenting pertinent information related to that criterion and to provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation. Competing applications are reviewed by nonfederal reviewers for technical merit recommendations. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria: (1) Purpose and Need; (2) Response to Program Purpose; (3) Impact; (4) Organizational Information, Resources and Capabilities; and (5) Support Requested. See the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed review criteria.

Notification of award is made in writing (electronic) through a Notice of Award. When making final funding decisions regarding Section 751 awards, consideration will be given to the "Sense of the Congress that there be an area health education center program in each state."

Approximately 120 to 180 days after receipt of applications.

Depending on Agency priorities and availability of funding, during the final budget year of the approved project period competing continuation applications may be solicited from interested applicants.