FY 2026 NTAP Sample Project Work Plan

Support six cohorts of health centers in or below the third quartile in clinical performance to improve clinical outcomes and access to comprehensive, high-quality care.

As required:

• Two cohorts will address controlled hypertension.
• Two cohorts will address weight assessment and counseling for children and adolescents.

Required applicant choice cohorts:

• One cohort will address breast cancer screening.
• One cohort will address screening for depression and follow-up plan.

At least 75% (30 of 40) health centers participating in each of the six cohorts will improve toward the next highest quartile for the respective Uniform Data System (UDS) clinical quality measures:

• Controlling high blood pressure.
• Weight assessment and counseling for children/adolescents.
• Breast cancer screening.
• Depression screening and follow-up.

Objective Impact Narrative

Each health center participating in a cohort will complete a learning series, individualized coaching, and a peer learning group. As a result of this multi-pronged, data-driven technical assistance, they will improve clinical performance on the applicable measure. Health centers will also strengthen their skills and capacity for future quality improvement.

We will measure progress through annual UDS data and semi-annual progress reports. Select metrics will be displayed on cohort dashboards. We will review performance with each health center every six months, and more frequently if indicated. Below are measures for each clinical topic. Additional measures may be selected based on the evolving needs of health centers and partners.

• Controlling high blood pressure
  • UDS (annually)
    • Controlling high blood pressure (Table 7, Sec B, line i)
  • Cohort Outcome Measure Progress Update (annually)
    • Quantitative and qualitative measures describing progress toward the objective target
• Weight assessment and counseling for children/adolescents
  • UDS (annually)
    • Weight assessment and counseling for nutrition and physical activity for children/adolescents (Table 6B, line 12)
  • Cohort Outcome Measure Progress Update (annually)
    • Quantitative and qualitative measures describing progress toward the objective target
• Breast cancer screening
  • UDS (annually)
    • Breast cancer screening (Table 6B, line 11a)
  • Cohort Outcome Measure Progress Update (annually)
    • Quantitative and qualitative measures describing progress toward the objective target
• Depression screening and follow-up
  • UDS (annually)
    • Screening for depression and follow up plan (Table 6B, line 21)
  • Cohort Outcome Measure Progress Update (annually)
    • Quantitative and qualitative measures describing progress toward the objective target

Activity Description

We will run a curriculum for all cohorts from February 2027 through January 2030. The first six months of this learning series will advance health centers’ ability to implement measurable performance improvements and sustain progress throughout the cohort cycle. It will also provide the foundation for coaching and peer learning activities. Partners will help plan the curriculum and events, as well as present. Guest subject matter experts will contribute, as indicated.

Three sessions will be held after cohorts are formed in year 1. Six sessions will be held annually in year 2 and year 3. The first-year sessions will cover:

• In-person kick off meeting: Welcome and orientation to the cohort model for all cohort participants.
• Virtual general session: Clinical performance improvement for all cohort participants.
• Virtual clinical topic session: Standards of care, outcome targets, and best practices; each cohort will attend one topic-specific session.

All sessions will apply adult learning theories, and clinical topic sessions will be highly interactive using ABC Platform. Pre- and post-session learner evaluations will be used. We will apply for continuing education credits for appropriate sessions. Suitable TA resources will be shared with the National TA and Coordination Center so other health centers may use them.

PCAs will contribute state and regional data, encourage health center participation, share existing aligned resources, and present. XYZ Contractor will analyze baseline data, and train health centers to collect and use data, and use dashboards. Other experts will support…

By the end of the first year, each health center will:

• Participate in the three offered sessions.
• Identify at least three targets for performance improvement in the clinical topic.
• Identify at least two measures to track performance improvement progress.

• Quality, patient care, and safety
• Workforce

• Dr. K. Brown, learning series lead

• ABC Consultants
• Primary Care Associations
• XYZ Contractor
• Additional subject matter experts

Activity Description

We will lead individual coaching with ABC Consultants from April 2027 through January 2030 to increase the impact of each health center’s performance improvement efforts. PCAs, XYZ Contractor, and other subject matter experts will provide needed guidance and resources.

Each health center will have a dedicated coach from either Applicant 1 or ABC Consultants. Each coaching session will be supported by a data expert from XYZ Contractor and a clinical topic expert. XYZ Contractor will help health centers build and use dashboards to track progress and refine performance improvement interventions. Other experts will support…

The individual coaching will also help health centers build teams to participate in the coaching sessions and lead performance improvement activities using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. The members will hold the following or comparable roles:

• Chief medical officer
• Other roles

The coaching activities in the first year will include at least two virtual sessions:

• General session: Welcome and orientation to the coaching model.
• 1:1 session: Using results of needs and readiness assessments to identify target areas for intervention.

Appropriate TA resources will be shared with the National TA and Coordination Center so that other health centers may use them.

By the end of the first year, each health center will:

• Validate their own baseline data;
• Develop an initial performance improvement plan; and
• Participate in one semi-annual performance review with Applicant 1 (in future years, performance reviews will be biannual).

This coaching activity will build health center skills, enhance teamwork, and create a solid foundation for sustained performance improvement throughout the cohort cycle.

• Quality, patient care, and safety
• Workforce

• A. Smith, coaching lead

• ABC Consultants
• Primary Care Associations
• XYZ Contractor
• Additional subject matter experts

Activity Description

Health centers will be placed into groups of 10 that will use peer learning to support improvement on their hypertension control measure. Placement will be determined by, in part, baseline data and similarities in barriers to improvement. Peer learning groups will run from July 2027 through January 2030. The same health center staff will participate in both the peer learning groups and the individual coaching.

Applicant 1 and ABC Consultants will facilitate the peer learning groups, including:

• Help establish new working relationships among the health centers.
• Ensure progress on peer learning group goals.
• Ensure progress on individual performance improvement plans established through individual coaching.
• Provide consultation and resources.
• Identify when peer learning groups would benefit from consultation by other experts and coordinating consultations.

The peer learning groups create opportunities for targeted and faster-paced quality improvement exercises. The peer learning groups will define milestones for each quarter and report progress to the cohort quarterly. Aggregate peer learning group progress updates will be displayed on the cohort dashboard. Appropriate TA resources will be shared with the National TA and Coordination Center so that other health centers may use them.

By the end of the first year, the peer groups will meet 1-2 times and will:

• Define goals and quarterly milestones for the peer learning group goals.
• Contribute data to the cohort dashboard quarterly.
• Present progress on peer learning group goals and individual quality improvement plans to the cohort every six months.

Based on cascading activities, peer groups will have limited meetings in year 1. Peer groups will meet approximately 6 times a year in future years.

• Quality, patient care, and safety
• Workforce

• T. Davis, peer learning lead

• ABC Consultants
• Additional subject matter experts