Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Key facts

Parent department

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Created

1982, by merging the Health Resources and Health Services Administrations

Major programs

Health Center Program, NHSC, 340B, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

Shortage designations

HPSAs, MUAs and MUPs, managed by the Bureau of Health Workforce

What is HRSA?

The Health Resources and Services Administration is an operating division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It was formed in 1982 when two older agencies, the Health Resources Administration and the Health Services Administration, were merged.

HRSA works mostly through grants, designations and workforce programs rather than insurance payments. It funds community health centers, pays clinicians to serve in shortage areas, runs the 340B Drug Pricing Program and decides which places count as short of health professionals.

How HRSA is organized

HRSA work is split across bureaus and offices, including:

• Bureau of Primary Health Care: runs the Health Center Program and designates look-alikes.
• Bureau of Health Workforce: runs the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and shortage area designations.
• HIV/AIDS Bureau: administers the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
• Maternal and Child Health Bureau: administers the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant.
• Office of Pharmacy Affairs: oversees the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
• Federal Office of Rural Health Policy: sets the rural definition used for many HHS rural grants.

Why HRSA matters

HRSA publishes several of the most widely used public datasets on access to care. Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area (MUA) files drive physician recruitment incentives and site selection. Uniform Data System (UDS) reports describe every federally funded health center. The 340B covered entity database shows which hospitals and clinics can buy discounted outpatient drugs, which matters to pharmaceutical market access and pricing teams.

HRSA vs CMS

HRSA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are both HHS agencies, but they do different jobs. CMS pays claims and certifies providers for Medicare and Medicaid. HRSA awards grants and makes designations. Many programs need both: a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) earns its status through HRSA but is paid its FQHC rate by CMS and state Medicaid programs.