[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30992-30993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10302]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Regional AIDS Education and Training Centers Program Supplemental 
Award

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Announcing a Supplemental Award for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program 
(RWHAP), Regional AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) award 
recipient, University of Massachusetts (UMass).

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SUMMARY: HRSA will provide supplemental funding to UMass, a current 
Regional AETC Program award recipient, for a 1-year period of 
performance and 1-year budget period to support a program designed to 
train internal and family medicine residents to specialize in HIV 
treatment and care management. This training program is critically 
needed, as it will help increase the number of primary HIV care 
providers available to diagnose, treat, and medically manage people 
with HIV and address urgent needs stemming from the HIV care workforce 
shortage.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Abo, Management Analyst, 
Office of Program Support, HIV/AIDS Bureau, HRSA, at [email protected] and 
(301) 945-4537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Intended Recipient(s) of the Award: UMass, a Regional AETC Program 
award recipient that currently has the capacity and an existing program 
designed to train medical residents in HIV care to help increase the 
number of providers who can serve people with HIV and address the 
critical provider shortage.
    Amount of Non-Competitive Award: One award for $450,000.
    Project Period: July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
    Assistance Listing (CFDA) Number: 93.145.
    Award Instrument: Supplement for HIV/AIDS Workforce Development and 
Training Services.
    Authority: Section 2692(a) (42 U.S.C. 300ff-111(a)) and section 
2693 (42 U.S.C. 300ff-121) of the Public Health Service Act.

                                      Table 1--Recipients and Award Amounts
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                Grant No.                      Award recipient name            City, state         Award amount
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6 U1OHA29294-08-03.......................  University of Massachusetts  MA                              $450,000
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    Justification: The HIV care workforce continues to decrease, 
directly impacting the ability of RWHAP to meet the goals and 
objectives of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States by 2030. 
Experts indicate that fewer medical trainees are entering the field of 
HIV and that workforce trends are not keeping pace with the rates of 
HIV infection. Given the overall HIV/AIDS care workforce challenges 
presented, it is imperative that purposeful action is taken to support 
the current workforce. According to a recent HIV care provider study 
conducted by the RWHAP National Coordinating Resource Center, in 
addition to the current workforce shortages, 10.5 percent of the 
current providers surveyed will be leaving HIV care in 5 years, and an 
additional 7.3 percent of those surveyed will be decreasing the number 
of patients with HIV to whom they provide care.
    In November 2022, UMass, a current award recipient of the Regional 
AETC Program, submitted an unsolicited proposal to HRSA's HIV/AIDS 
Bureau to support a program designed to train internal and family 
medicine residents to specialize in HIV care and management. The HIV 
Pathways Consortium Program (Pathways) is designed to increase the 
number of primary care providers that have the knowledge and expertise 
to provide direct care services and treatment to people with HIV and 
train other primary care providers. UMass has implemented Pathways for 
several years and has been able to demonstrate impact on the HIV care 
workforce. Pathways aligns with the purpose and scope of work for the 
Regional AETC Program as described in the current Fiscal Year 2019 
Notice of Funding Opportunity (HRSA 19-035).
    The proposal underwent extensive review per the guidelines 
established by HHS and HRSA for a recipient initiated supplemental 
funding proposal. Having met the HHS guidelines, further review 
determined that the proposal aligns

[[Page 30993]]

with the current activities of the AETC Program, is of significant 
benefit to the government, and meets the legislative intent of the Ryan 
White HIV/AIDS AETC Program. In addition, recipient initiated 
supplemental funding proposals require a technical review and are not 
required to undergo a competitive process.
    This award will greatly enhance the ability of the AETC program to 
target and increase the number of trained HIV physician providers, 
including those trained at minority-serving institutions. In addition, 
Pathways will quickly introduce new providers into the HIV care 
workforce, address critical workforce shortages, and aid the federal 
government in reaching the goal to end HIV by 2030. The proposed 
project will be a new activity under UMass' current Regional AETC 
Program award. HRSA will award $450,000 in supplemental funding to 
UMass for a 1-year project and budget period.

Carole Johnson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-10302 Filed 5-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P