Forum: Strong Start - Conference Call

CMS staff hosted a conference call to discuss important updates regarding the Strong Start funding opportunity.

CMS released a funding opportunity announcement to reduce the frequency of premature births – medically defined as less than 37 weeks of gestation – among pregnant beneficiaries at-risk for preterm births. Under this initiative, the Innovation Center will award up to $43 million through a competitive process to providers, States, managed care plans, and conveners to achieve better care, improved health, and lower costs for women enrolled in Medicaid and their newborns.

Due to numerous questions and suggestions we have received from stakeholders, CMS is revising the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to respond to the important issues stakeholders have raised. CMS will extend the application deadline to allow potential applicants the time they need to develop innovative models. We would also like to note that Letters of Intent will not be required to submit a Strong Start application. 

More information about the revised timeline will be announced as soon as it becomes available. Slides (PDF) containing information for this event are now available for download. 

Download: Slides (PDF)  |  Transcript (PDF)