In Fiscal Year 2022, HRSA delivered on the Secretary’s priorities of equity, preparedness, behavioral health, and access to affordable care through our work to combat COVID-19, increase equitable access to health care services, and grow the health care workforce including the behavioral health workforce. HRSA’s lifesaving and life-sustaining work included:
Combatting COVID-19
HRSA played a unique role in supporting the COVID-19 response given our sizable footprint and long-standing relationships in high-risk, high-need communities. Outcomes include:
- 22 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered through HRSA-supported health centers.
- More than 40 million COVID tests were distributed this year in the highest risk and hardest hit communities through HRSA-funded health centers and rural health clinics.
- Over 14,000 community outreach workers—trusted community messengers who speak the language of the communities they serve—were rapidly hired and deployed to increase vaccine confidence and improve equity in vaccine uptake in underserved communities through a newly developed HRSA program.
- To further expand access to COVID tools, HRSA launched community distribution of high-quality masks and at-home tests, expanded access to supplies for individuals with disabilities and older Americans, and adopted new programs like COVID test-to-treat initiatives in high-need communities.
Increasing Equitable Access to Health Care Services
HRSA has designed, implemented, and managed critical programs that are delivering vital health care services and improving equitable access to quality care. Outcomes include:
- Over 30 million people in underserved communities received primary health care services—like blood pressure testing, diabetes, and asthma control; cancer screening; and wellness checks—regardless of their ability to pay, thanks to HRSA’s administration of the community health center program.
- HRSA’s health center program includes oversight of 14,000 sites and results in health care delivery that outperforms the overall health care system on key metrics like diabetes control.
- Over 89% of individuals with HIV who received medical services in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program reached viral suppression, meaning undetectable and non-transmittable HIV, as a result of the services they received. Overall viral suppression rates for Hispanic and Black patients at Ryan White clinics exceeded the national average in the United States.
- Almost 3.7 million infants—nearly every newborn in the country—received newborn screening for genetic and metabolic conditions like cystic fibrosis, thyroid diseases, sickle cell, and immunodeficiency conditions through HRSA-administered maternal and child health programs.
- Over 70,800 people living in rural communities received medication for opioid use disorder thanks to HRSA’s programs to expand treatment in rural areas.
- 140,000 parents and children living in higher risk communities received more than 920,000 home visits from nurses, social workers, and other trained counselors through HRSA’s administration of evidence-based programs to improve health, school readiness, and other outcomes for newborns to pre-kindergartners.
- Thousands of individuals received immediate emotional support and resources in the first 5 months of operation of HRSA’s newly launched 24/7 Maternal Mental Health Hotline.
HRSA also launched a new program to expand access to equitable care, including a Cancer Moonshot program to bring patients of HRSA-supported health centers access to cutting edge care from the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Centers, and a state innovation program to improve maternal health equity and implement the White House Blueprint on Maternal Health. In addition, HRSA quickly distributed significant new funding to expand access to mental health care for children through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Growing the Health Care Workforce
To expand access to health care services, including behavioral health, we need a robust and diverse workforce—particularly as facilities work to support and retain staff in the wake of the pandemic. HRSA leads the Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts to grow and diversify the workforce. Outcomes include:
- More than 20,000 clinicians—the largest number ever—received scholarships and loan repayment in return for practicing in underserved communities through HRSA’s National Health Service Corps.
- National Health Service Corps includes doctors, dentists, nurses, mental health professionals, and other types of primary care providers.
- Over 34,000 individuals from racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds underrepresented in the health care workforce are receiving support and training this year through HRSA programs to become health professionals and improve equity in health care delivery.
- More than 7,000 new mental health and substance use disorder providers, including psychiatrists, child psychiatrists, addiction medicine physicians, psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, counselors, and health support workers were trained and supported through HRSA programs.
- Approximately 13,000 community health workers, who reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, will be trained and deployed to expand access to community-based care through a program newly designed and launched by HRSA this year.
- Over 7,200 pediatricians, family medicine providers, OB/GYNs, nurse midwives, and other primary care providers were trained to identify and treat mental health conditions through HRSA-administered maternal and child health programs.
- HRSA developed and launched new programs and initiatives, including efforts to train and support employment for community-based doulas to improve equity in maternal health and a program to grow the nursing workforce by helping meet the need for more nurse faculty and clinical preceptors.
- Over 15,600 substance use disorder providers are being supported and trained in rural communities thanks to HRSA’s rural opioid treatment programs.
- 57,000 health care professionals treating people with HIV received education and training through HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program AIDS Education and Training Center Program.