The Department of Health and Human Services submitted its BRAIN Health Transformation grant application on Nov. 4, Commissioner Lori Weaver told the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee on Nov. 21. Weaver said the application was submitted about 9:37 p.m. and that a summary of the proposal has been posted on the department's website.

Weaver said the submission incorporates nearly all community feedback gathered during statewide stakeholder meetings and a request for information. She described the federal review period with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as an "engagement" during which CMS will question the state, the department will respond and both sides will negotiate the proposal's budget. Weaver said the department will not learn what CMS approves, including the budget, until Dec. 31.

The commissioner told the committee the grant allows up to a 10% administrative rate, which the department expects to use in part to hire staff to administer the award; some existing staff would have dual roles in oversight and grant management. Upon award, Weaver said DHHS anticipates a rapid procurement period from January through March and close coordination with the governor's office on administrative oversight.

Committee members asked whether grant dollars could be used for hiring; Weaver said yes within the administrative cap. She also acknowledged that some community ideas were ineligible under grant rules and that final funding will depend on CMS' decisions.

The department plans to post the full, multi-document application for transparency and to finalize procurement and implementation details after CMS approval. The next formal budget step will be the agency's discussions with the governor's office and the Council on Fiscal matters after an award is announced.