Shortage Area Designations

Shortage area designations are evaluated by the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (OPCRH) to ensure underserved communities may participate in federal and state programs targeting 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.

There are three specialties that 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 on a three-year rotation as determined by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

• HPSA 101
• How to Find Your Designation Status

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 signify a shortage of primary care services as reflected through 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 - 2024. 

Resources

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

If you would like additional information, please contact Primary Care Office Program Manager Robert Jordan via email or at (334) 206-5425.