HRSA awards $282 million to expand primary health care workforce
October 19 - HRSA today announced nearly $282 million in awards to primary health care clinicians and students through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and NURSE Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs.
“Through NHSC and NURSE Corps scholarships and loan repayment for more than 12,000 recipients, we’ve helped communities recruit and retain quality primary care clinicians committed to providing care where they’re needed most,” said HRSA Administrator George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D. “In rural communities facing higher rates of provider shortages, the NHSC is making an impact with one in three NHSC clinicians serving in a rural area."
HRSA awards $2.36 billion in grants to help Americans access HIV/AIDS care and medications
October 17 - HRSA announced today approximately $2.36 billion in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grants awarded to cities, counties, states, and local community-based organizations in fiscal year (FY) 2017. This funding supports a comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, medication, and essential support services to more than half a million people living with HIV in the United States.
"The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program plays a critical role in the United States' public health response to HIV,” said HRSA Administrator George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D. "These grants will ensure that the most vulnerable Americans living with HIV/AIDS will have access to the necessary care and treatment needed to improve their health quality and medical outcomes."
HRSA awards nearly $285 million to support the nation’s pediatric health workforce
October 16 - HRSA today announced a total of approximately $285 million to 58 children’s hospitals through HRSA’s Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program in Fiscal Year 2017. The awards reflect an ongoing investment in the quality and preparation of the nation’s pediatric health workforce.
“CHGME funding enables hospitals to train pediatric residents to meet the needs of our youngest patients, especially vulnerable and underserved children,” said HRSA Administrator George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D. “It also allows hospitals to enhance their research capabilities to stay on the cutting edge of innovation in the field of pediatric medicine and patient services.”
Meet Brian LeClair, HRSA’s new Principal Deputy Administrator
Brian LeClair, JD, MBA, became Principal Deputy Administrator of HRSA on October 4, 2017.
Before coming to HRSA, LeClair was President and COO of the LeClair Group, a national marketing organization that focuses on the recruitment and training of health insurance agents and the distribution of major medical, Medicare and long term care products. In this role, he recruited large clusters of insurance agents from across the country, conducted training seminars for agents, and was successful in growing the company’s revenues.
Learn more about Brian LeClair.
Hospital closings likely to increase
Hospitals located in rural areas have been closing their doors more frequently and at higher rates than urban facilities in recent years -- and a pattern of increasing financial distress suggests that more are likely to falter, experts said in a recent web conference.
The small hospitals are often the only health care available in rural counties, and those most affected by hospital closings tend to be poor, minorities and elderly patients with chronic health conditions.
Learn more about rural hospital closings.
Suicide trends among and within urbanization levels by sex, race/ethnicity, age group, and mechanism of death — United States, 2001–2015
According to a new CDC study, substantial geographic variations in suicide rates exist, with suicides in rural areas occurring at much higher rates than those occurring in more urban areas.
Suicide is a public health problem and one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States.
This study underscores the need to tailor suicide prevention efforts to the needs of different geographic areas and demographic groups in order to reach populations at highest risk.
