Shortage Area Designations

Shortage area designations are evaluated by the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (OPCRH) to ensure that vulnerable communities can participate in federal and state programs that address their unique needs. The shortage designations include Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P).

Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)

HPSA designations indicate a deficiency of health professionals serving the community.

There are two types of designations:

1. Geographic HPSAs
   Designation of a geographical service area demonstrating a shortage of providers in comparison to the whole population.
2. Low-Income HPSAs
   Designation of the low-income population with a given service area. This demonstrates a shortage of providers serving Medicaid and Sliding Fee Scale patients in comparison to the low-income population.

Three specialties are reviewed for HPSA designations.

       1. Primary Care -- Health professionals measured include MDs and DOs practicing family medicine, general medicine, general pediatrics, general internal medicine, and general OB/GYN services.

• Primary Care HPSA Map - May 2024

       2. Mental Health -- Health professionals measured include MDs practicing general and child psychiatry only.

• Mental HPSA Map - May 2024

       3. Dental Health -- Dentists measured include those practicing general and pediatric dentistry only.

• Dental HPSA Map - March 2024

Active designations are automatically reviewed every 3 years, as determined by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

How to Find Your Designation Status 

Follow this step-by-step guide to determine the HPSA and MUA/P status for any specific practice. 

Step 1: Access the HRSA Tool

Naviate to the official website at HRSA HPSA Find.

Step 2: Select the Search Type

Look at the left-hand panel of the homepage. Select the option labeled "HPSA & MUA/P by Address". 

Step 3: Enter Location Details 

Input the complete, exact address of you practice facility into the search fields to ensure accurate results. 

Step 4: Review Designation Results

The results page will display specific designation statuses across four distinct categories: 

1. Primary Care
2. Mental Health 
3. Dental Care
4. Medically Underserved Area/Population 

For each of these sections, the portal will provide the following details: 

• HPSA/Service Area Name - The official name of the designated shortage area
• HPSA or MUA/P ID - The unique identification number for the region
• HPSA Status - The current standing (e.g., Designated, Proposed for Withdrawal)
• HPSA Score - The priority rating assigned to the area
• Designation Date - The official date of the initial designation 
• Designation Last Updated Date - The date of the most recent review or change

Step 5: Analyze Geographical Information

The final section of the results page will outline comprehensive geographical data, including: 

• State & County - State name, county name, and county subdivision name 
• Census & Portal - Census tract number, zip code, and post office name
• Government - Congressional district name and the congressional district representative name

Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTAs)

MCTAs are high-need, primary care HPSAs that meet specific criteria based on the ratio of females ages 15-44 to maternity care providers, low-income women, distance/travel time to care, fertility rates, social vulnerability, and maternal health indicators (pre-pregnancy diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and early access to prenatal care).

• MCTAs Map - June 2024

Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P)

MUA/P designations indicate a shortage of primary care services, as reflected in a shortage of health professionals and certain health status indicators. These designations are not required to be updated at this time, but are reviewed in conjunction with HPSA reviews.

• MUA/P 101
• Medically Underserved Area/Population Map

Shortage of Obstetrical (OB) Services in Rural Alabama

OB services in Alabama's rural areas have contracted significantly in recent years, as depicted on this map of rural OB service loss from 1980 to 2025.

Resources

• Designation Requirements for Selected Federal Programs
• The Loss of Rural Obstetrical Service in Alabama, 1980-2025 - Archived
• The Loss of Rural Obstetrical Service in Alabama, 1980-2023 - Archived
• The Loss of Rural Obstetrical Service in Alabama, 1980-2019 - Archived

If you would like additional information, please contact Primary Care Office Program Manager Chantel Pullom via email or at (334) 206-3807.