HRSA recently announced nearly $52 million in awards for 54 HRSA-funded health centers to increase access to high-quality primary care for people soon to be released from incarceration and reentering the community.

As many as 80% of individuals returning to the community after incarceration have chronic medical, psychiatric, and/or substance use conditions. Researchers have reported that among individuals who are released from prison, opioid overdose is a leading cause of death with a risk more than ten-fold that of the general population. Individuals leaving incarceration also face many heightened health risks, including disproportionately higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hepatitis, and hypertension.

In addition to the funding announcement, HRSA has issued a new policy notice for all health centers clarifying the circumstances under which they may provide pre-release care to justice-involved individuals. This policy supports health centers to better meet the needs of their entire community and describes how health centers can provide health services to incarcerated individuals who are expected to be or are scheduled for release from a carceral setting within 90 days to help ensure continuity of care.

Read the press release.

HRSA just released the latest projections for the national supply, demand, and distribution of health care workers. Use the Workforce Projections Dashboard to explore supply and demand trends by occupation, state, year, and more.

Check out Health Workforce Projections for an overview of projections for different groups of workers, such as nurses and physicians, and details on our programs that seek to address future shortages.