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Health Workforce Shortage Areas

Explore geographic area, population, and facility HPSA designations data for Primary Care, Dental Health, and Mental Health throughout the United States.

Use this dashboard to:

  • View national overview of HPSAs.

Documentation

Learn more about this dashboard and how to use it.

Data Source Information

  • Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)

    These data provide areas designated by HRSA as having shortages of primary care, dental care, or mental health providers. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) develops shortage designation criteria and uses them to decide whether or not a geographic area or population group is a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), or Medically Underserved Population (MUP). More than 34 federal programs depend on HPSA/MUA/MUP designations to determine eligibility or as a funding preference. About 20 percent of the U.S. population resides in primary medical care HPSAs. HPSAs may have shortages of primary medical care, dental, or mental health providers; may be urban or rural areas; population groups; or medical or other public facilities.

    Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)

    These data provide areas designated by HRSA as having shortages of primary care, dental care, or mental health providers. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) develops shortage designation criteria and uses them to decide whether or not a geographic area or population group is a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), or Medically Underserved Population (MUP). More than 34 federal programs depend on HPSA/MUA/MUP designations to determine eligibility or as a funding preference. About 20 percent of the U.S. population resides in primary medical care HPSAs. HPSAs may have shortages of primary medical care, dental, or mental health providers; may be urban or rural areas; population groups; or medical or other public facilities.

    • Updated: 11/05/2025
    • Refresh Cycle: Daily
    • Data Type: HRSA

    Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) Data Usage Terms & Conditions

    Data Published by: HRSA, Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW), Division of Policy and Shortage Designation (DPSD)

    Usage limitations: None

  • Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P)

    These data provide geographic areas and populations with a lack of access to primary care health services. Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) may be a whole county or a group of contiguous counties, a group of county or civil divisions or a group of urban census tracts in which residents have a shortage of personal health services. Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) may include groups of persons who face economic, cultural or linguistic barriers to health care. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce develops shortage designation criteria and uses them to decide whether or not a geographic area or population group is a MUA or MUP.

    Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P)

    These data provide geographic areas and populations with a lack of access to primary care health services. Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) may be a whole county or a group of contiguous counties, a group of county or civil divisions or a group of urban census tracts in which residents have a shortage of personal health services. Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) may include groups of persons who face economic, cultural or linguistic barriers to health care. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce develops shortage designation criteria and uses them to decide whether or not a geographic area or population group is a MUA or MUP.

    • Updated: 11/05/2025
    • Refresh Cycle: Daily
    • Data Type: HRSA

    Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) Data Usage Terms & Conditions

    Data Published by: HRSA, Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW), Division of Policy and Shortage Designation (DPSD)

    Usage limitations: None

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