HRSA Awards Grants Under Ending the HIV Epidemic Plan

On March 4^th, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded $99 million in grants through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) plan. More than $87 million went to 61 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program participants in 39 metropolitan areas and eight states linking people with HIV to essential care, treatment and support services. An additional $8 million was awarded to two organizations to provide technical assistance and systems coordination services and $3 million was awarded to the AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs) to provide workforce capacity development and more technical assistance.

Dr. Laura Cheever, HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau’s Associate Administrator said, “The awards specifically support programs that play a critical role in communities hardest hit by the HIV epidemic to ensure that people have access to the life-saving medication and HIV care and treatment services they need.”

The goal of the EHE is to reduce new HIV infections in the U.S. by at least 90 percent by 2030. If successful, the plan will reduce the number of new HIV infections to fewer than 3,000 per year. At a recent President’s Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) meeting, Dr. Cheever presented new information for the first reporting period for previous EHE funding for March – August 2020. The data showed that 6,287 clients that received services were new to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and an additional 3,600 were reengaged. Services ranged from Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) prescription services to mental health and substance use services. New services in support of EHE included improving care and treatment coordination with a focus on Black women with HIV, best practice compilation, enhancing engagement of people with HIV and programs to reduce stigma and increase data utilization.

The American Academy of HIV Medicine has long supported the Ending the HIV Epidemic plan and urges HRSA to continue to build on their success as they ensure EHE funding for programs and people living with HIV ultimately reduces new cases of infections.