HRSA HAB seeks WRMA data analysis expertise

Summary

The Health Resources and Services administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) administers the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part D which funds coordinated HIV care for women, infants, children, and youth (WICY). The WICY population has benefited from advances in HIV prevention, treatment, and care, but despite these improvements, challenges persist amongst the WICY population. These challenges have changed since the beginning of the epidemic, and there has been limited consideration over the years on how best to leverage RWHAP Part D funds for greater national impact.

HRSA HAB has contracted with WRMA and its subcontractor, Mission Analytics group, to perform primary and secondary data analysis that will help HAB reimagine ways for RWHAP Part D to better reach and serve the WICY population that is affected by HIV. The WRMA team won the contract due to its demonstrated expertise in the RWHAP Part D program and the familiarity we have with RWHAP data.

Ryan White Part D Project Timeline

Details

HRSA HAB administers the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), which provides a comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, medications, and essential support services for low-income people with HIV who are uninsured and underserved. The RWHAP Part D — Grants for Coordinated HIV Services and Access to Research for Women, Infants, Children, and Youth (WICY) — provides funding for outpatient, ambulatory, family-centered primary and specialty medical care and support services for women, infants, children, and youth living with HIV. The WICY population has benefited from advances in HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Despite the improvements in the prevention of HIV, retention in care, and viral suppression, challenges persist amongst populations targeted by RWHAP Part D program. These challenges have changed since the beginning of the epidemic, and there has been limited consideration over the years on how best to leverage RWHAP Part D funds for greater national impact, including its role in engaging/re-engaging new and out-of-care WICY populations.

In September 2018, WRMA and its subcontractor, Mission Analytic Group, was awarded a contract by HRSA HAB for the purpose of determining factors to reimagine the RWHAP Part D and maximize its resources for greater national impact. A Part D Recipient Listening Session at the 2018 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment and a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) in the Spring of 2020 were held and key themes were identified and presented to HRSA HAB. Secondary analyses were also completed of several datasets including HIV surveillance data, RWHAP Services Report (RSR) client-level data, and allocations data. Finally, a literature review provided valuable context in which to complete these analyses and provide recommendations. Through these activities, the WRMA team worked toward identifying gaps and potential future directions for the RWHAP Part D Program. Based on these analyses and a strong understanding of the RWHAP Part D and context in which it operates, we recommended HRSA HAB consider three areas for next steps: training and technical assistance, addressing disparities, and HRSA HAB-level policies.