Which agency focuses on expanding access to health care for geographically isolated or medically underserved populations?

• A. National Institutes of Health
• B. Health Promotion
• C. Health Resources and Services Administration
• D. TRICARE

Answer: (C)

Expanding access to care for people in geographically isolated or medically underserved areas is achieved by an agency that funds and coordinates safety-net services and the health workforce for those communities. Health Resources and Services Administration handles this mission. It supports community health centers, rural health clinics, and programs that place or recruit health professionals in underserved settings, such as loan repayment for clinicians who serve in high-need areas. Through these efforts, HRSA helps overcome barriers like distance, provider shortages, and limited resources that keep people from getting care. The National Institutes of Health focuses on biomedical research, TRICARE provides military health benefits, and Health Promotion is not the agency dedicated to expanding access in underserved areas.