HRSA June in Brief

Administrator Johnson marked Pride Month 2023 by releasing the following message: "Pride Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community and ensure that we continue to work together to help people to thrive. Through HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, HRSA-supported community health centers, and other programs, we've made important strides in expanding access to health care and are committed to delivering the care all individuals need. HRSA and the Biden-Harris Administration will always stand with the LGBTQIA+ community."

On June 5, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson joined Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, White House National Mpox Response Coordinator Demetre Daskalakis, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, and leadership from SAMHSA, IHS, and AHRQ to celebrate Pride Month 2023 and to raise the Pride Flag at headquarters in Rockville, Maryland.

On June 21, Principal Deputy Administrator Diana Espinosa testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health about the role of HRSA programs in combatting the nation's opioid epidemic. Principal Deputy Administrator Espinosa highlighted how HRSA programs, including the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Programs, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, National Health Service Corps, and the Health Center Program, are expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder services in underserved communities.

A team from HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is among the finalists for the prestigious Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, known as the "Sammies," in the Management Excellence category through the Partnership for Public Service.

Megan Meacham, Allison Hutchings, and Sarah O'Donnell are credited for their work on the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) that since its launch in 2018 has helped fund care networks in remote areas, many for the first time. The team have been instrumental in bringing opioid and substance use prevention and recovery services to over 1,800 rural counties across 47 states.

HRSA observed HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day on June 5 with a #HRSAHonorsHIVSurvivors campaign to honor the strength and resiliency of long-term survivors and raise awareness about their needs and journeys. The campaign, which took place between June 5 – 8, included long-term survivors sharing their stories as part of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Life Beyond HIV series.

Staff from HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program attended the Baltimore AFRAM Festival for its first community outreach event for the C.H.A.N.G.E. (Creating HIV Awareness with iNfluencing Groups to End the HIV Epidemic) Initiative. The festival was held June 17 – 18 and showcased African American music, art, and culture. HRSA staff set up an interactive exhibit booth to provide information about HIV care, treatment, prevention, mpox, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program resources.

HRSA observed this year's National HIV Testing Day on June 27 by encouraging and emphasizing the importance of HIV testing. Testing is essential to reducing HIV infections, improving health outcomes for people with HIV, and helping to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S.

This year's theme was "Take the Test & Take the Next Step, " which emphasizes that knowing your HIV status helps you choose options to stay healthy. HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and Health Center Program recipients are committed to conducting HIV testing across the country, and connecting people to HIV care and treatment if they test positive.

On June 15, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson participated in a discussion in Washington, DC, to discuss ways to bolster the health workforce and improve pandemic preparedness. Administrator Johnson discussed HRSA investments in clinical training programs and employee well-being to build retention in the health care workforce. She also highlighted the National Health Service Corps and the mandatory funding cliff the program faces at the end of FY 2023.

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson participated in a panel discussion with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and CDC Principal Deputy Director Nirav Shah on "Building a Healthier America: A Federal Approach" at the American Public Health Association's (APHA) 2023 Policy Action Institute held on June 15 in Washington, DC.

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson provided keynote remarks at the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers Annual Conference on June 13 in Washington, DC, about the challenges facing the nursing workforce and how HRSA is addressing these challenges to grow and support nursing staff.

HRSA's Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs joined forces with Somos Latino Outreach Understanding Division (LOUD), an organization that works in the Latino community, at Chicago's Pride Fest 2023 to commemorate National HIV Testing Day. HRSA's Antonio Vargas shared information about how to access services through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, Health Center Program, and workforce programs with festival attendees. Somos LOUD also provided HIV testing services during the event. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, HRSA celebrated National HIV Testing Day with the health department, the municipality of San Juan, and local partners.

HRSA's Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs joined four HHS Regional Tribal consultations this month for Region 1, with tribes from Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts; Region 2 – western New York, Seneca Nation; Region 7 – Kansas City, Missouri; and Region 9 – Phoenix, Arizona. HHS regional consultations provide HHS and its Operating Divisions with the opportunity to hear from tribal leaders on how HHS can improve tribal outreach and coordination and discuss programmatic and policy items with tribes.

On June 23, HRSA IEA’s Seattle Regional Office hosted a workforce event focused on programs to support the health workforce in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. HRSA convened the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association, Washington Department of Health, Office of Rural Health, Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, and the Washington Area Health Education Center Program, among others. The event highlighted strategies to build a resilient, diverse, and sustainable workforce as well as local programs designed to train the next generation of health workers.