The Trump administration recently announced dramatic cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
In response, TCF Senior Fellow Carole Johnson, former HRSA Administrator in the Biden administration, said the following:
“It was an incredible honor to lead the Health Resources and Services Administration, so I am devastated to watch it come apart—not just for the amazing team that makes HRSA happen, but for the people all across the country who depend on HRSA’s lifesaving and life-changing work.
“I once visited a hospital in Ohio where nearly every doctor, nurse, and social worker had a story about how HRSA had either helped them become a health care professional or helped their patients get better care and community supports. I met medical residents at a HRSA-funded physician training program who planned to go home and be the only physician in each of their rural Idaho communities thanks to HRSA’s support. And, more than once, I’ve talked with new moms from lower income communities in states like Kentucky, Missouri, and Alabama, who told me that HRSA’s programs made the difference in their babies and their families’ very survival.
“HRSA took a heavy hit in the HHS RIFs this week. You probably haven’t heard a lot about them yet. I suspect that’s because Team HRSA is a put-your-head-down-and-do-the-work place. So, I’m sharing a few examples to shine a little light on what the nation—particularly some of the most vulnerable people in this country—is losing:
-
-
- The leaders who manage the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, which provides pregnant women and new moms mental health and postpartum depression support;
- Staff who direct the federally qualified health center program so that people who live in historically underserved and rural communities have a place to get high-quality health care;
- The team making sure clinics in rural and other underserved areas can get doctors and nurses to come practice in their communities thanks to HRSA’s medical school loan repayment and scholarships;
- The enforcement folks from the team that helped save much of the health care system by getting funding into doctors and hospitals’ hands to keep them financially viable during COVID and who are holding these providers accountable for having used the money appropriately—and where they didn’t, recouping the funds;
- The communications professionals who help rural communities who need doctors, young people dreaming about becoming nurses and doctors, people with HIV who need care, pregnant and new moms struggling to get care or afford diapers, and so many others get connected to HRSA-supported resources;
- Grants management experts who make it possible for resources to reach community-based organizations, states, and local communities and who hold folks accountable for following the rules and delivering on their commitments;
- And, inexplicably, the outstanding HR team. Unclear how a new health agency will take shape without them.
“There is so much more: the HRSA oral health and mental health and substance use disorder leads, people being shipped off to other agencies without transition plans, and other evolving changes. All of this presents real and unnecessary challenges for low-income communities at the same time that devastating cuts to Medicaid and SNAP are on the horizon. I’m curious who is leading change management in this operation, as it is far from obvious how firing these folks and gutting the safety net will ‘improve coordination of health resources for low-income Americans,’ as the administration has promised.
“As we work to help underserved communities navigate a future without HRSA, a huge thank you to Team HRSA for your tireless work and dedication to the people in this country who need it most.”
TCF’s Carole Johnson Responds to Deep Cuts to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
The Trump administration recently announced dramatic cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
In response, TCF Senior Fellow Carole Johnson, former HRSA Administrator in the Biden administration, said the following:
“It was an incredible honor to lead the Health Resources and Services Administration, so I am devastated to watch it come apart—not just for the amazing team that makes HRSA happen, but for the people all across the country who depend on HRSA’s lifesaving and life-changing work.
“I once visited a hospital in Ohio where nearly every doctor, nurse, and social worker had a story about how HRSA had either helped them become a health care professional or helped their patients get better care and community supports. I met medical residents at a HRSA-funded physician training program who planned to go home and be the only physician in each of their rural Idaho communities thanks to HRSA’s support. And, more than once, I’ve talked with new moms from lower income communities in states like Kentucky, Missouri, and Alabama, who told me that HRSA’s programs made the difference in their babies and their families’ very survival.
“HRSA took a heavy hit in the HHS RIFs this week. You probably haven’t heard a lot about them yet. I suspect that’s because Team HRSA is a put-your-head-down-and-do-the-work place. So, I’m sharing a few examples to shine a little light on what the nation—particularly some of the most vulnerable people in this country—is losing:
“There is so much more: the HRSA oral health and mental health and substance use disorder leads, people being shipped off to other agencies without transition plans, and other evolving changes. All of this presents real and unnecessary challenges for low-income communities at the same time that devastating cuts to Medicaid and SNAP are on the horizon. I’m curious who is leading change management in this operation, as it is far from obvious how firing these folks and gutting the safety net will ‘improve coordination of health resources for low-income Americans,’ as the administration has promised.
“As we work to help underserved communities navigate a future without HRSA, a huge thank you to Team HRSA for your tireless work and dedication to the people in this country who need it most.”