Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program | HRSA 25 079

Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program (HRSA-25-079) FAQs

What is the CHGME Payment Program?

The Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program is a federal grant/payment program that helps support the costs of physician training at freestanding children's teaching hospitals. It was created to address a long-standing gap in federal graduate medical education (GME) financing that occurs because most major federal GME support flows through Medicare.

Why does this program exist if Medicare already supports GME?

Medicare is the largest source of federal GME financing for many teaching hospitals, and Medicare-based GME support is tied to Medicare utilization. Full-service teaching hospitals that treat many Medicare patients tend to receive substantial Medicare GME funding. Freestanding children's hospitals typically treat mostly children, have very low Medicare patient volume, and therefore often receive little to no Medicare-based GME funding even when they operate major residency and fellowship programs. CHGME exists to offset that structural disadvantage.

Who administers CHGME?

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), specifically HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW).

What types of costs does CHGME help support?

CHGME is intended to support the costs associated with operating approved GME programs at eligible children's hospitals, recognizing that these hospitals incur training-related costs even without comparable Medicare reimbursement. The opportunity description highlights examples such as resident salaries and benefits, supervision, educational infrastructure, and added clinical costs associated with teaching.

What problem is CHGME trying to solve in plain terms?

CHGME functions as a corrective financing mechanism. Children's hospitals still train physicians and incur the same categories of training expenses as other teaching hospitals, but Medicare-based GME funding does not "follow" pediatric care settings because their patient mix does not generate Medicare utilization. CHGME helps close that funding gap so pediatric training programs are not penalized simply because they care for children.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility centers on being a freestanding children's hospital that functions as a teaching hospital. The opportunity states that eligible applicants are freestanding children's hospitals whose inpatients are predominantly under 18 years of age, that participate in an approved graduate medical education program, and that have a Medicare payment agreement.

Where can applicants find the full eligibility requirements?

The opportunity directs applicants to Section III.1 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the complete and controlling eligibility requirements. That section typically contains the specific documentation, certification, and program participation standards required.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number and Assistance Listing (CFDA) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HRSA-25-079, and the Assistance Listing (CFDA) is 93.255.

Is this a discretionary grant?

Yes. The listing describes this opportunity as a discretionary grant under HRSA.

What was the closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date shown is August 8, 2024.

How many awards are anticipated?

The anticipated number of awards is 59, indicating broad participation among qualifying freestanding children's teaching hospitals nationwide.

Is there a maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The posting lists an award ceiling of 0. In summaries, this generally indicates that a single fixed maximum award amount is not specified in that field and that payment amounts are likely determined by statutory or formula-based calculations described in the full NOFO rather than a traditional competitive cap.

Are CHGME payments tied to Medicare utilization the way Medicare GME is?

The description contrasts Medicare GME (which is tied to Medicare utilization) with CHGME, which recognizes that children's hospitals incur training costs despite low Medicare patient volume. CHGME exists specifically because Medicare utilization patterns do not adequately support pediatric training settings.

What kinds of training programs does CHGME relate to?

The opportunity focuses on graduate medical education programs at children's teaching hospitals, including training for pediatric and pediatric subspecialty physicians. Eligibility includes participation in an approved GME program.

Why is having a Medicare payment agreement mentioned in eligibility?

The eligibility summary for this opportunity explicitly includes having a Medicare payment agreement as one of the stated criteria (along with being freestanding, having inpatients predominantly under 18, and participating in an approved GME program). For the authoritative requirement and details, applicants are directed to Section III.1 of the NOFO.

What is the intended impact of CHGME on the healthcare system?

By directing HRSA-administered payments to eligible freestanding children's teaching hospitals, CHGME helps stabilize and sustain pediatric workforce training pipelines and supports the broader goal of ensuring adequate access to pediatric and pediatric subspecialty care.