CMS-2L2-25-001
Health Equity Data Access Program (HEDAP)
Summary
Health Equity Data Access Program (HEDAP)
HEDAP funds researcher access to the CMS Virtual Research Data Center (VRDC) to conduct health services research on health disparities among Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP enrollees. The program targets applied research using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administrative data to identify, document, and evaluate disparities affecting racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, those with limited English proficiency, rural populations, and people experiencing persistent poverty or inequality. Research spans physical health, oral health, behavioral health, population health, and social determinants of health. HEDAP particularly encourages intersectional approaches—examining how individuals' membership in multiple groups creates overlapping health inequities—and seeks to build researcher capacity for future CMS data utilization. Findings will provide actionable intelligence to CMS and quality improvement partners for identifying and addressing health disparities in underserved populations.
- Who can apply: Researchers eligible for VRDC access; no specific institutional or disciplinary restrictions stated.
- Funding & project length: Six VRDC "seats" (individual user accounts); 36 months access per seat, subject to fund availability.
- Award / mechanism: Data access award (not a traditional grant).
- Key dates: Not stated.
- Best fit for: Health services researchers, epidemiologists, and health policy analysts studying health disparities and social determinants using administrative claims data and intersectional frameworks.