Office of Primary Care and Rural Health

Health Professionals/Students

Health Professional Shortage Areas

This section has been created to explain:

• What are HPSAs and MUAs?
• What is the purpose of HPSAs and MUAs?
• Types of HPSAs
• How HPSA data is collected
• Renewing HPSA designations
• Federal HPSA database 
• Table of Rhode Island HPSAs
• Maps used for HPSAs
• Criteria for HPSA applications
•      Primary Care
•      Dental
•      Mental
• Maps of Rhode Island HPSAs 
•     Primary Care
•      Dental
•      Mental
• List of Health Facilities in RI HPSAs, MHPSAs, and DHPSAs
• 37 federal programs using HPSAs as a requirement to apply for their programs

What are HPSAs and MUAs?

Health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and medically underserved areas (MUAs) are those parts of Rhode Island that meet specific federal criteria that assess shortages of health care providers.

What is the purpose of HPSAs and MUAs?

The purpose of HPSA designations is to identify areas of greatest need and prioritize limited state and federal resources towards those high need areas.  HPSA designations are based on the degree of under-service for geographic areas, population groups, or non-profit/public medical facilities and state correctional institutions. MUA designation is based on a four-point scale that evaluates an area’s infant mortality rate, percent of population below 100% of the federal poverty level, percent of population greater than 65 years of age, and the number of physicians available to serve and area or population.

Types of HPSAs:

• Primary Medical Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) - 
• Mental Health Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSAs) - 
• Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSAs)

How HPSA data is collected:

The Office of Primary Care (OPC) conducts statewide surveys of all Rhode Island licensed primary care physicians, psychiatrists, and dentists. Survey questions are designed to assess the total number of actively practicing clinicians in accordance with specific federal criteria for HPSA designation. Survey data is analyzed and the results are submitted in an application to the federal agency responsible for reviewing and approving all HPSA applications (Division of Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

Renewing HPSA designations:

Currently, HPSA designations are reviewed every three years. As a result, actively practicing primary care clinicians are surveyed on a regular basis, current survey data is analyzed, and updated applications are submitted for review/approval to the Division of Shortage Designation, as needed. At this point in time, MUA designations are not subject to a regular review and update cycle.