HHS Announces Additional Funding to End HIV Epidemic

According to an Aug. 23 press release, at the National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra announced more than $20 million in funding to increase HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services at health centers across the U.S. The funding is awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to 54 health centers and is part of HHS’ Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative that seeks to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the country by 90 percent by 2030.

The release states that “Health centers who receive this funding will leverage it to expand access to medication to prevent HIV (including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP and related services), connect people to care, and ensure care services are well coordinated. They will also leverage it to strengthen partnerships with community organizations such as HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program-funded organizations and health departments. Stronger partnerships speed up patients’ connections to prevention services, including testing and PrEP.”

Further, “Partnerships and action are even more important as the U.S. faces a monkeypox (MPx) outbreak.  As part of the monkeypox outbreak response, the Biden-Harris Administration launched a national strategy to provide vaccines of MPx for individuals at higher risk of exposure. HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has begun allocating an initial allotment of vaccines for people with HIV, people who are low income, and those who are uninsured.”

The funding adds to more than $100 million in previously awarded EHE funding to more than 300 health centers and will fund additional health centers in the counties, territories, and states identified as part of the EHE initiative.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra was quoted in the release saying that “Community health centers are critical to preventing and treating HIV, especially when it comes to reaching underserved communities. Today’s awards will ensure high quality HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services are more readily available for Americans who need it the most.”

A list of award recipients can be accessed here.