Area Health Education Centers
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
• 41 percent of AHEC Scholars worked or trained in medically underserved communities and/or rural areas one year after program completion, and 36 percent in primary care settings.
• 1,444 continuing education courses were offered to 142,023 practicing health professionals, 26 percent of whom worked in medically underserved communities, and 17 percent of whom worked in rural areas.
• 4,706 clinical training sites were maintained across the United States, where AHECs provided hands-on training to 29,112 AHEC trainees and 12,304 interprofessional trainees.
Program Objective
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.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- State
- Nonprofit Organization
- U.S. Territory Government
- Not-for-Profit Organization
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
- Nonprofit Organization
- Not-for-Profit Organization
- Trainee
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.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
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.”
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 120 to 180 days
Approximately 120 to 180 days after receipt of applications.
Program details & compliance
Description
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.
Mission Categories
Primary: General Health and Medical
Other categories:
Health EducationNursing EducationMental HealthVeterans Health
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
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.
Restrictions
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.
Required Documentation
Applicants should review the individual HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued under this assistance listing for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted with an application package. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Matching Requirements
With respect to the costs of operating a program through a grant under section 751, to be eligible for assistance under section 751, an entity shall make available (directly or through contributions from state, county, municipal governments or the private sector) recurring nonfederal contributions in cash or in kind toward such costs in an amount that is equal to not less than 50 percent of such costs. Thus, the matching ratio for AHEC awards is 1:1 (federal funds to non-federal contributions). At least 25 percent of the total required non-Federal contributions shall be in cash.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements