Last week, HRSA announced more than $80 million in awards to rural communities in 39 states to support key strategies to respond to the overdose risk from fentanyl and other opioids. These awards help advance President Biden’s commitment to beat the opioid epidemic as part of his Unity Agenda for the nation. 

Read the release.

National Recovery Month is a time to lift up the work communities across the country are doing to make recovery possible. The Health Resources and Services Administration supports community-based organizations across rural America, health centers in thousands of historically underserved communities that provide care regardless of individuals ability to pay, and Ryan White/HIV care providers in cities and states across the country. Together, these grantees are on the frontlines in helping communities provide access to substance use disorder care and in helping people find their path to recovery. At the same time, at HRSA, we are investing in the recruitment and training of the next generation of the behavioral health workforce and in training the primary care workforce to respond to and treat opioid and other substance use disorders. We are committed to pulling all the levers we can to offer not just hope, but the affordable treatment needed to make recovery possible.

- Administrator Carole Johnson

HRSA opened the application cycle for the 2024 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program.

Final-year students studying to become a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, medical doctor, or dentist can apply for awards of up to $120,000 in exchange for a three-year commitment providing primary care services at NHSC-approved sites in high-need areas.  

This year, HRSA added an additional $40,000 supplement for medical students and certified curse midwives who commit to providing OB/GYN services in a maternity care target area (MCTA). Designated MCTAs are areas within an existing health professional shortage areas that are experiencing a significant shortage of maternity health care professionals.

Applications are due Thursday, December 7, 7:30 p.m. ET. 

During Labor Day weekend, September 1-3, staff from HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau’s CHANGE Initiative exhibited at Atlanta Black Pride Weekend.

Throughout the three-day weekend, CHANGE, with support from HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (Region 4) and CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, met with over 400 attendees to discuss HIV care and treatment and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP). Also, CHANGE provided a linkage to care and treatment by supporting community partners and encouraged attendees to visit RWHAP recipients’ booths to get HIV tested.

Overall, CHANGE discussed the impact of HIV in the Black/African American community and federal-led efforts to meet patients where they are. 

HRSA's new infographic from the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) highlights 2021 data from the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative.

The infographic presents national data on people served by HAB EHE-funded providers in 2021. In 2021, HAB EHE-funded providers served 22,413 people with HIV new to care and 15,318 people estimated to be re-engaged in care.

HAB EHE recipients are implementing proven, promising, and innovative strategies and services to link and engage people with HIV in care so that they can reach optimal HIV outcomes, which significantly reduces new HIV infections in the U.S.

Check out the infographic and our other data tools.

HRSA's National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment and scholarship programs can help eliminate student loan debt in the health professions.

HRSA is cohosting a webinar and Q&A session for health care providers who serve tribal communities with the National Indian Health Board, and the National Council of Urban Indian Health. Join us on Tuesday, September 19, 1–2 p.m. ET.

HRSA is partnering with CMS to host a webinar for those who work with geriatric populations on the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, Tuesday, September 12, 4-5 p.m. ET.

The model aims to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers while delaying avoidable long-term nursing home care and enabling more people to remain at home through the end of life.