Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) are service areas or population groups that have been designated as having too few primary medical care, dental, or mental health providers to meet the needs of the population. These shortages may be geographic-, population-, or facility-based:
View our interactive map of Shortage Designations: (Click on the map)
We also have hard copy PDF maps available here:
(Use the HPSA Find website to locate a HPSA)
Auto-HPSAs
What is an auto-HPSA?
An auto-HPSA is a facility that meets the criteria to be considered a HPSA, such as serving an underserved population. The following facility types are eligible to become an auto-HPSA:
- Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs),
- FQHC Look-a-likes (LALs),
- CMS certified rural health clinics (RHCs), or
- Certified Indian Health Services facilities/tribal facilities/Urban Indian Centers (ITUs).
Each auto-HPSA is assigned a score, based on various factors, including the population to provider ratio; travel time and distance to the nearest source of accessible care, outside the facility; and the percent of the patient population at 100% FPL or below. Other factors are considered, based on HPSA discipline:
- Primary Care
- Infant Mortality Rate/Low Birth Weight
- Dental Health
- Water Fluoridation
- Mental Health
- Elderly RatioYouth RatioAlcohol Abuse PrevalenceSubstance Abuse Prevalence
Medically Underserved Areas/Populations
Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) are service areas or population groups who face economic, cultural or linguistic barriers to health care.