How Billing Works

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Free consultations and resources

CTSI offers consultations on a wide range of topics at no charge to University of Minnesota investigators.

We currently offer free consultations about biostatisticscommunity-engaged researchearly-stage translational researchinformaticsparticipant recruitmentregulatory topics, and more.

In addition we provide a wide range of resources at no cost to the investigator. These include tools for managing data, such as REDCap and the i2b2 cohort-discovery tool. Plus, researchers can access a clinical data repository that houses the health records of more than 4.5 million patients, and seminars and online trainings to support research career development -- all at no cost to them.

Contact our Research Navigator at [email protected] or 612-625-CTSI (2874) to schedule your consultation. Rates depend on funding source (e.g., federal vs. business/industry). 

Our rates 

Pre-award support

For projects funded by the federal government, foundations, or internal funding programs, pre-award support is provided at no cost to the investigator.

Pre-award support includes all activities occurring prior to enrolling the first participant in the study.

  • Pre-award support is provided at no cost with the understanding that CTSI services will be included in the budget for post-award activities.
  • Exceptions to the pre-award no-cost policy may apply.
  • Example exception: database design and development by a biostatistician or informatician where billable work may be done during the pre-award time period.

For projects funded by a business and industry sponsor, pre-award support is billable to the sponsor.

Contact us for more information about external or business and industry rates. 

Post-award support and implementation services

For all projects using CTSI post-award or implementation services, staff time and clinical procedures are billable to the sponsor, either at hourly rates or as a percent of salary (i.e., biostatistician).

Budget development

Preparing to submit a grant proposal?

Budgeting service 

Budgeting resources

Services from Fairview and University of Minnesota Physicians

Clinical Research Budgeting and Billing Policy

All clinical research projects requesting services from University of Minnesota Physicians (UMP) and/or Fairview will be required to conform to the Clinical Research Budgeting and Billing policy.

The policy, approved by AHC Deans, was necessitated by the complexity of Medicare's clinical trial policy and by the increased scrutiny given this issue by the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. UMP and Fairview Health Services, our main clinical partners, have also adopted this policy.

OnCore

OnCore, in conjunction with EPIC, is used as a communication tool between UMN researchers and Fairview, UMP, and IDS staff for pricing provider services and billing compliance purposes. Any study that is using Fairview, IDS, or UMP services must register their study with OnCore. A study team will be expected to track the subjects, visits, and procedures for the study in a centrally-built calendar, as well as link research visits in EPIC. The Service providers then use this information to appropriately bill charges to either insurance or research.

OnCore replaced TASCS for all new studies since October 2016 as the University's billing compliance tool. Pre-existing TASCS studies not ending 2018 or earlier are expected to be transferred to OnCore in close coordination with the study team and service providers. 

OnCore training and help

Contact the OnCore team at [email protected] or 612-626-3080 with any questions. Training materials such as user manuals and guides are available from within the OnCore Help menu via the UMN OnCore User Guide link.

How to get started

Request services and consultations either via the CTR Portal or our Research Navigator.