Applications open December 9 for innovative solutions to improve patient safety in three key areas: medication safety, fall prevention, and health literacy.

Elevance Health Foundation today announced that applications will open December 9, 2025, for its inaugural $5 million Patient Safety Prize. With a focus on improving health literacy, eliminating medication errors, and preventing patient falls, the Prize invites changemakers to submit transformational solutions that improve safety, advance quality of care, and enhance outcomes for vulnerable populations.

As part of the Community Action Leadership (CAL) initiative, the inaugural Patient Safety Prize advances the Foundation’s mission to drive community-based innovation that addresses critical health challenges. Unlike traditional grantmaking, this unique take on philanthropy will cultivate collaboration among external thought leaders while continuing to cement the Foundation’s role as a catalyst for positive change in the community.

A diverse array of nonprofits, healthcare institutions, technology companies, patient advocacy groups, and thought leaders are encouraged to apply for a share of the $5 million prize pool, which will recognize and accelerate their initiatives.

"Patient safety is one of the most pressing challenges facing our healthcare system today. Too often, preventable harm impacts already disadvantaged communities,” said Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., Chief Health Officer, Elevance Health. “Through the Community Action Leadership Patient Safety Prize initiative, we are creating a platform for bold, innovative solutions that can reduce harm, improve outcomes, and make healthcare safer, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of every patient. We look forward to seeing the transformational solutions that emerge from this inaugural challenge.”

Patient safety events disproportionately impact socially vulnerable communities and are often preventable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 1.5 million Americans visit emergency departments each year due to adverse drug events, while the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) estimates 700,000 to 1 million patient falls occur in U.S. hospitals annually. The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) also finds that nearly nine in ten adults struggle with health literacy, increasing the risk of preventable harm.

The Patient Safety Prize initiative was announced at the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)’s November Meeting, “The Future of Patient Safety: A New Paradigm.” With support from the NAM, Elevance Health Foundation will be convening a distinguished panel of experts to evaluate Prize submissions. Building on the foundation of the NAM’s landmark work, including “To Err is Human,” the Foundation aims to advance innovative, evidence-based solutions that expand access to safer, higher-quality care and improve health care experiences for all communities.

To learn more about the Patient Safety Prize and access the RFP when it goes live on December 9, 2025, please visit www.patientsafetyprize.org. Applicants must complete their registration by March 17, 2026, and submit their proposal by April 7, 2026, to be considered.

About Elevance Health Foundation

Elevance Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Elevance Health Inc. The Foundation works to improve the health of the socially vulnerable through partnerships and programs in our communities with an emphasis on maternal-infant health; behavioral health; and food as medicine. Through its key areas of focus, the Foundation also strategically aligns with Elevance Health's focus on community health and becoming a lifetime, trusted health partner that is fueled by its purpose to improve the health of humanity. To learn more about Elevance Health Foundation, please visit www.elevancehealth.foundation or follow us @ElevanceFND on X and Elevance Health Foundation on Facebook.

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