Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) What is a Shortage Designation
This webpage for the the general public who is interested in the Shotage Designation process and explains what shortage designations are.
Final
Issued by: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Issue Date: August 01, 2019
What is a Shortage Designation?
There are several types of shortage designations:
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) identify geographic areas, populations groups, or facilities within the United States that are experiencing a shortage of health care professionals.
Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) identify geographic areas and populations with a lack of access to primary care services.
Exceptional Medically Underserved Population (Exceptional MUP) identify a specific population subset that does not meet the established criteria but due to unusual circumstances do not have access to primary care services.
Governor’s Designated Secretary Certified Shortage Areas for Rural Health Clinics are areas that a state Governor or designee designates as having a shortage according to the state-established shortage plan for the establishment of a Rural Health Clinic.
Why do we use shortage designations?
The authorizing statute for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) created HPSAs to fulfill the statutory requirement that we direct NHSC personnel be directed to areas of greatest need. Due to limited federal resources, shortage designations help us prioritize and focus our resources on the areas of highest need.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and other scholarship and loan repayment programs, increase access to primary care, dental, mental, and behavioral health services.
Program builds healthy communities by providing scholarships and student loan repayment for primary care providers in the medical, dental, and behavioral health fields who agree to practice in areas of the country that have health professional shortages.
Corps members fulfill their service requirement by working at NHSC-approved sites located in HPSAs.
How do you apply for a shortage designation?
If your community or facility would like us to designate it as a HPSA, you may submit data to your State Primary Care Offices (State PCOs).
State PCOs:
- Conduct needs assessment in their states.
- Determine what areas are eligible for designations.
- Submit designation applications to HRSA.
HRSA:
- Reviews these HPSA applications.
- Designates the community or facility as a HPSA, IF:
- The application meets the designation eligibility criteria for that specific type of HPSA.
Where can you find shortage designation data?
Visit Find Shortage Areas to determine if your organization is located within shortage area.
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.