Federal Shortage Areas

Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The designation is indicative of a shortage of primary care physicians in a rational service area. Shortage areas are identified through analysis of physician/population ratios. There are four degrees of shortage and the physician/population ratio varies depending on whether the area is considered to have a high need. Criteria used to determine high need are based on infant mortality rates, poverty rates, and fertility rates. The counties designated as partial shortage areas have a shortage in only part of the county, such as certain census tracts or selected segments of the population. In-depth census data and information is available on the web site of the Census Bureau, a division of the United States Department of Commerce.

Federal Health Professional Shortage Areas for Primary Care 2018

(Partial indicates either a special population designation or that part of the county is designated rather that the whole county.)

Federal Health Professional Shortage Areas for Dental 2018

Federal Primary Care Shortage Areas for Mental Health 2018