Research Operations Web Application (ROWA)

Research Billing Office (RBO) resources

Research Operations Web Application (ROWA)

The Research Operations Web Application (ROWA) is an electronic application that is used to do one of two things:

  1. Determine research rates (costs) for research related study procedures. These costs will only account for research rates that are billable by:
    • Ohio State Health System
    • The Ohio State Faculty Group Practice Plan (FGP)
    • Ohio State Physicians (OSUP)
  2. Obtain IHIS Access for Research

Other research related costs will need be to be accounted for when preparing the clinical trial budget. Please refer to the Research Study Budget Design and Analysis page for more information on budget creation.

Research Rates through ROWA

The Research Billing Office (RBO) is responsible for quoting research rates for services that are billable by Ohio State Health System, the Ohio State Faculty Group Practice Plan (FGP) and Ohio State Physicians (OSUP).  

Research Rates for the Wright Center of Innovation can be obtained by contacting Melanie Hughes at 614-293-9998. Also please note that the Information Warehouse (I.W.) has separate billing/fees for copies of radiology exams, digital images, etc.  Please refer to the Research Study Budget Design and Analysis page for more information on additional research rates to be included in the budget.

NOTE: The Center for Clinical Research Management (CCRM) or Clinical Trials Office (CTO) will manage the generation of research rates and budget development for most clinical trials, if your research group is part of the CCRM or CTO. If you are part of one of these groups, please reach out to your study implementation or finance team. 

Research rates for Ohio State Health System can be obtained by using the Research Operations Web Application also known as ROWA. The ROWA site was designed to manage the workflows and communications required during the research rate requests and new research account request processes. The information is entered into ROWA by researchers or their support staff. Information may be entered in pieces or all at one time. Research rates are expected to be completed within approximately five to ten business days, after submission, and is dependent on the complexity of the requests. 

The ROWA rate request workflow is completed by: 

  • Create a new study in the ROWA application 
  • Request services either by free-text descriptions, CPT codes or charge codes
    • Researchers can upload protocol-related documents into the application to assist with identifying the needed services
  • Once the researcher submits a rate request an email is automatically sent to the RBO
  • The RBO will work with the ancillary service departments to identify the services required for the requests
  • Once the request has been completed ROWA will automatically generates an email message containing the itemized quote and send it to the researchers, billing contacts and research coordinators

IHIS Study Activation through ROWA

Researchers not under the umbrella of the CCRM or CTO can activate their study in IHIS using ROWA. This activation is needed to ensure the appropriate research billing is taking place and that the study patient is not charged for research related procedures. Compliant billing is required for all research.

To activate the study in Integrated Health Information Systems (IHIS): 

  • The user will first need to enter the new study information in ROWA
  • Then the user will need to click the “Register” button to provide additional study details that are required to build the research record in IHIS

ROWA Resources

ROWA: Log in (osumc.edu)

RBO Website: Research Billing Office (RBO) (osumc.edu)

Budget Design: Ohio State CCTS Research Study Budget Design and Analysis

RBO Email: Research.Billing@osumc.edu