Health Systems Comprehensive Care Tier I Program

The Health Systems Comprehensive Care Tier I program is administered by the Ohio Department of Health through its Bureau of Health Improvement and Wellness. The funding opportunity is supported by federal resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Overdose Data to Action in States initiative. The program is designed to build upon prior investments in emergency department based comprehensive care models, specifically targeting health systems that have previously participated in related Ohio Department of Health initiatives. The grant reflects a continued statewide effort to address substance use disorders and opioid-related morbidity and mortality through coordinated, system level healthcare interventions. The primary purpose of the program is to support the development, maintenance, and expansion of comprehensive systems of care within hospital systems. Awardees are required to maintain and enhance clinical capacity to screen individuals for substance use disorders and link them to trauma informed, longitudinal care. A central feature of the program is the deployment of linkage navigators in emergency departments, who facilitate patient engagement, coordinate care transitions, and ensure continuity of treatment. The program also emphasizes the integration of telehealth models and cross system coordination to improve access to care and sustain outcomes over time. Funding is provided through a deliverable based structure, with subrecipients reimbursed for completion of specified programmatic objectives. Up to two Ohio based health systems may be funded, with a maximum award of four hundred thousand dollars per recipient and a minimum award threshold of thirty thousand dollars. Funds may be used for personnel, training, travel, supplies, and program related operational costs, but are subject to strict restrictions. Prohibited uses include inpatient services, capital construction, naloxone purchases, syringe programs, and other activities not aligned with overdose prevention and linkage to care objectives. No cost sharing or matching requirement is imposed on applicants. Eligibility is limited to hospital systems that were previously funded under the Emergency Department Comprehensive Care program or related Health Systems Comprehensive Care initiatives. Applicants must also meet compliance conditions such as having no outstanding financial obligations to the Ohio Department of Health and maintaining current registration in the state supplier system. The service area is defined by emergency departments serving individuals with substance use or opioid use disorders, and the program is restricted to previously funded health systems, making this a continuation and expansion opportunity rather than an open competition. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Ohio Department of Health Grants Management Information System. Submission requires completion of multiple components including application information, project narrative, budget, civil rights documentation, assurances, and federal reporting forms. Additional required materials include a public health impact statement, evidence of health disparity strategies, and documentation of coordination with local health districts. The application must be complete in all respects by the deadline, as incomplete or late submissions are not considered. Proposals are evaluated based on quality, clarity, and completeness, with specific emphasis on alignment with program objectives, feasibility of implementation, measurable outcomes, and organizational capacity. Review criteria include the ability to demonstrate reduction of health disparities, alignment between budget and activities, strength of evaluation plans, and prior performance in managing grant funds. Successful applicants must also comply with reporting requirements, including quarterly program and expenditure reports and a final financial report. The application deadline is August 3, 2026 at four o clock p.m., with the program period beginning October 1, 2026 and extending through August 31, 2028. The initial budget period covers the first year of implementation through August 31, 2027. Applicants are notified through the grants system, and awards are contingent upon availability of funds. Questions regarding the program may be directed to the designated contact at the Ohio Department of Health via email or phone.

Ensure strong alignment with SMART objectives and clearly demonstrate how activities reduce health disparities while aligning budget with deliverables and evaluation metrics