On July 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced via a press release that it has awarded over $155 million for 72 teaching health centers that operate primary care medical and dental residency programs. The health centers include high need specialties like psychiatry, as part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda to address the country's mental health crisis.
The release states that “HRSA’s Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program focuses on supporting residents in primary care residency training programs to meet the medical and mental health care needs of rural and underserved communities. With more than 970 full-time residents, it represents an important step toward increasing much-needed access to quality health care services.”
That said, “Here is a breakdown of the awards:
- $135 million in American Rescue Plan funds to support existing and new teaching health centers to support additional resident positions.
- $20 million in Fiscal Year 2022 funds to support existing Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education residency programs to continue resident training in the upcoming academic year.”
The release says that the awards are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase and enhance the allocation of the primary care workforce in areas of economical disadvantage. Previous investments from HRSA under the American Rescue plan are supporting further development of more teaching health center primary care residency programs.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra was quoted int eh release saying that “Having access to primary care and mental health support is essential to one’s health and well-being. Increasing the number of primary care residents training in community health centers and other outpatient community clinics is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to address longstanding health inequities in our most vulnerable communities. We will continue to expand the primary care workforce supply line to help meet community needs.”
The list of award recipients can be accessed here.
