The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has announced over $68 million in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding to provide family-centered medical care and essential support services for women with low incomes, infants, children, and youth with HIV. This initiative aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson revealed the awards during a state convening of HRSA’s Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. The event gathered Maryland community leaders, state and local health officials, and grant recipients. Last year, HRSA launched the Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority Serving Institutions—comprising more than 16 universities and colleges coordinated by Morgan State University—to improve maternal health disparities research and identify community-based solutions. HRSA is investing $50 million over five years in this collaborative.
“HHS is committed to helping new moms and their babies stay healthy, so we are making vital health care services—including care for those living with HIV—available and accessible,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The funding that HRSA is announcing today will provide resources to promote the health and well-being of women, infants, and children in communities across the country.”
“We know that many women with HIV continue to face barriers accessing HIV care and treatment, including stigma and lack of social support,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “Through this funding, community-based organizations across the country will deliver lifesaving, culturally responsive HIV care to help women with HIV access the health care they need and live long, healthy lives.”
HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program offers a comprehensive system of primary medical care, medication, and necessary support services to more than 560,000 people with low incomes who have HIV. The program tailors its approaches to meet people with HIV where they are while addressing factors such as access to food, child care, housing, and transportation that directly affect patients' ability to enter and remain in care.
In 2022 alone, more than 142,000 women received services from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program—accounting for a quarter of all clients in the program. Additionally, 89.9% of female clients receiving medical care through the program achieved viral suppression—meaning they cannot sexually transmit HIV to others and can live long lives. The scientific consensus is clear: ‘undetectable = untransmittable,’ indicating that a fully suppressed viral load prevents transmission of HIV.
Today’s funding supports critical HIV care for women through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program as part of HRSA’s broader efforts to enhance maternal health outcomes. The Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative aims to address maternal mortality and health disparities in collaboration with mothers, grantees, community organizations, as well as state and local health officials nationwide.
To date, HRSA has hosted several state convenings:
- In January 2024: Launched the Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative in Washington D.C., joined by Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.
- In April 2024: Hosted events in St. Louis (April 3) and Atlanta (April 29), announcing $105 million in Healthy Start funding.
- In June 2024: Held events in Flagstaff (June 3) announcing $15 million for rural communities' maternal health needs; Bozeman (June 11) announcing $5.4 million for Montana's eligibility under federal funding; later awarded over $11 million to establish new residency programs in rural areas.
- In September 2023: Convened in Raleigh announcing nearly $90 million aimed at combating maternal mortality.
For a full list of fiscal year 2024 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part D award recipients or more information about HRSA’s initiatives visit https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/about/parts-and-initiatives/part-d-swic/fy-2024-grant-awards or http://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov respectively.
