2026 Priority Setting Overview

What is priority setting?
Priority setting is the process of deciding which HIV/AIDS services are the most important in providing a comprehensive system of care for all PLWH in the EMA/TGA.

Why is priority setting important?
The Priority Setting (and Resource Allocation - PSRA) is the single most important legislative responsibility of the Planning Council as it greatly influences the system of care in the Minneapolis -St. Paul Transitional Grant Area and Greater Minnesota.
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Priority Setting process
  1. Service priorities will be set for each Ryan White Part A Grant Cycle (every three years) using the Paired Comparison worksheet. 
  2. Priorities will be reviewed annually and re-approved or amended as needed. 
  3. The Part A Recipient will refer to the service priority ranking to make any allocation/reallocation proposals or rapid reallocation decisions.​

Why is the 2026 priority setting process different?
  • Historically, the Council has prioritized services for two years to align with the previous Part A Grant Cycle.
  • In FY26, the Council approved a PSRA Process that more clearly outlined that while PSRA is done annually, a Cycle PSRA Retreat is done every three years to align with the Part A Grant Cycle. 
  • In Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, the Council is conducting an “Annual PSRA” to set priorities and allocate resource for FY2027 (3/1/27 – 2/28/28) to cover the gap between the previous priorities and the next grant cycle.

Best practices for setting priorities:

1. Principles

MCHACP's PSRA Process outlines the principles and criteria that inform the 2026 prioritization. 

3. The council’s allocation process will be data-based and will consider the following:

2. Review HRSA/HAB Service Category Definitions

4. Review

  • Current priorities
  • To be considered
    • Implications of needs assessment, services utilization, and other data "inputs".
    • Does this data identify possible need?
    • How might this be reflected in the prioritization of services?
Worksheet instructions
There is one prioritization worksheet that contains the core medical service areas and a second worksheet for support service areas. If you are a voting member, you should have received one of each worksheet via email.

When completing the worksheets:
  • Refer to needs assessment, services utilization, and other data "inputs". 
  • Rank all of the core medical service areas, comparing each core medical service area against all other core medical service areas. Rank all of the support service areas, comparing each support service area against all other support service areas.
  • Fill in each open cell on the worksheet by selecting your response in the drop-down list.
  • Notice that half the squares in the grid are dark gray – ignore them. You will not enter anything in the dark gray cells on the grid.
  • Begin by looking at the intersection of row A and column B:
    • Compare the service area listed in row A and the service area listed in column B. Based on all of the data presented, which service area do you think is the higher priority of the two?
    • In the intersecting cell, you will select the letter that corresponds to the service area that you think is the higher priority of the two service areas being compared.
  • Continue across row A, indicating your priority by selecting either letter A or the letter representing the service area you think is the higher priority.
  • Once you have completed row A, move on to the next row and complete it (again, ignoring the gray cells).
  • On the Total Score line at the bottom, do not add up the number of letters. The sheet will automatically total them for you.
  • You are finished when you see at the bottom of the worksheet in red “You have filled out 66 of the 66 paired comparisons” for the core medical service area worksheet and 105 out of 105 for the support service area worksheet. 
Worksheet submission instructions
Please contact council staff if you have any questions about what is expected of you to
complete this process. Once you have entered a letter in every open square on the grid, take the following steps:
  • Save the document.
  • Email it to Aamina Abdirashid Mohamed, Minnesota Council for HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Coordinator, [email protected]
  • Alternatively, you can request and submit a hard copy by contacting council staff (Aamina Abdirashid Mohamed, 612-596-2001, [email protected]) 
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​The worksheets do not require your name, date or signature unless you are returning
them via U.S. mail. Please return your two completed worksheets to Aamina Abdirashid Mohamed:
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Aamina Abdirashid Mohamed, 612-596-2001, [email protected] by Wednesday, September 2.