​​Federally Designated Underserved Areas

What is a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)?

HPSAs are defined service areas that demonstrate a critical shortage of primary care physicians, dentists or mental health providers. A HPSA can be a distinct geographic area (such as a country, grouping, census tract, township or borough), a specific population group within a defined geographic area (such as the population under 200 percent of poverty) or a specific public or non-profit facility (such as a prison).

What is a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) or Medically Underserved Population (MUP)?

MUA and MUP (MUA/P) identify areas or populations with a shortage of health care services. Documentation of shortages include several factors, in addition to the availability of health care providers. These factors include infant mortality rate, poverty rate and percentage of population aged 65 and older.

How does the Pennsylvania Department of Health assist with applications?

The Primary Care Office generates applications by using the Shortage Designation Management System. This software provides a comprehensive analysis of demographic data sets, health provider survey data and geographic attributes to generate applications. Office staff work with community partners to determine if an area or population meets federal criteria for designation.

Shortage Designations Lists

Find Shortage Areas (hrsa.gov)

More Information

HRSA Data Warehouse:  data.HRSA.gov - Find Shortage Areas

Contact Information

Primary Care Office
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Room 1031
Health & Welfare Building
625 Forster Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-772-5298
Fax: 717-705-6525