AK · Healthcare shortage profile
Copper River County, AK
Home to 2,617 residents, with 30 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 30
- Population
- 2,617
- Peak shortage score
- 16.0
- MUA Index
- -
The verdict
Copper River County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 30 active HPSA designations, more than 97% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 30
- Active HPSA designations
- 10
- Primary-care shortages
- 16
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 3%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 02066. Population: 2,617.
Copper River County, AK (population 2,617) has 10 primary care, 10 mental health, and 10 dental Health Professional Shortage Area designations active according to HRSA. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.
HPSA Scores
Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Medically Underserved Area
This county does not have an active MUA designation.
Copper River County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
30 Top 3% higher than 97% of 2,991 US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs · 2026
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 30 active (designated) HPSAs in Copper River County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Gakona Health Clinic | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Gulkana Health Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Tazlina Village Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| COPPER RIVER NATIVE ASSOCIATION | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Chitina Village Clinic | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Mount Sanford Tribal Consortium - Administration & Tribal Clinic | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Gulkana Health Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Gakona Health Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Tazlina Village Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Chistochina Village Clinic | mental_health | 13.0 |
| Copper Center Village Clinic | mental_health | 13.0 |
| CROSS ROAD HEALTH MINISTRIES, INC. | mental_health | 13.0 |
| CROSS ROAD HEALTH MINISTRIES, INC. | primary_care | 12.0 |
| Copper River Wrangell Mountain Dental Clinic | mental_health | 12.0 |
| CROSS ROAD HEALTH MINISTRIES, INC. | dental | 12.0 |
| COPPER RIVER NATIVE ASSOCIATION | dental | 12.0 |
| Chitina Village Clinic | primary_care | 10.0 |
| COPPER RIVER NATIVE ASSOCIATION | primary_care | 10.0 |
| Chistochina Village Clinic | dental | 10.0 |
| Chitina Village Clinic | dental | 10.0 |
| Copper Center Village Clinic | dental | 10.0 |
| Mount Sanford Tribal Consortium - Administration & Tribal Clinic | dental | 10.0 |
| Mount Sanford Tribal Consortium - Administration & Tribal Clinic | primary_care | 9.0 |
| Chistochina Village Clinic | primary_care | 9.0 |
| Gakona Health Clinic | primary_care | 9.0 |
| Copper River Wrangell Mountain Dental Clinic | dental | 9.0 |
| Tazlina Village Clinic | primary_care | 7.0 |
| Gulkana Health Clinic | primary_care | 7.0 |
| Copper Center Village Clinic | primary_care | 6.0 |
| Copper River Wrangell Mountain Dental Clinic | primary_care | 5.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Copper River County
Copper River County, AK - population 2,617 carries 30 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 10 in primary care, 10 in mental health, and 10 in dental. It does not currently hold a Medically Underserved Area designation, though individual HPSAs can still be present at the service-area level.
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 16.0, below the 17-point priority threshold but still a formally designated shortage. Primary-care scoring reached 13.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 16.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 14.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 30 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Copper River County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Copper River County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
10 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
10 designations
- Dental
Dental
10 designations
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Copper River County, AK · 2026 HRSA designation data updated quarterly; HPSA scores 0-25 (primary/mental) and 0-26 (dental); higher = greater shortage severity. Coverage tiers from U.S. Census ACS PUMS + KFF state tracker.
What to do with Copper River County's data
Copper River County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Copper River County's 30 active designations make providers here eligible for National Health Service Corps loan repayment, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's primary care burden compares with the rest of AK before you draw conclusions from a single score. AK overview
- Check whether an area clears HRSA's 3,500:1 population-to-provider threshold with the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score. HPSA score estimator
HPSA scores describe structural access to care, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; designations are reviewed by HRSA each quarter.
Counties With a Similar Primary Care Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose HRSA primary-care HPSA score is closest to Copper River County's 13.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Copper River County have?
Copper River County, AK has 30 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 10 in primary care, 10 in mental health, and 10 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Copper River County a Medically Underserved Area?
Copper River County does not currently have a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designation from HRSA. However, the county may still have individual HPSA designations for specific provider types.
What does an HPSA score mean?
HPSA scores range from 0 to 25 for primary care and mental health (0 to 26 for dental). Higher scores indicate greater shortage severity. Areas with scores of 17 or above are considered high-priority shortage areas eligible for National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement.
What healthcare providers are needed in Copper River County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Copper River County needs additional providers in primary care (family physicians, internists, pediatricians), mental health (psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers), and dental care (dentists, dental hygienists). The National Health Service Corps offers loan repayment and scholarship programs for providers who serve in designated shortage areas.
How are HPSA designations used by federal programs?
HPSA designations determine eligibility for over 30 federal programs, including National Health Service Corps placements, Community Health Center grants, Medicare bonus payments (10% for physicians in HPSAs), J-1 visa waiver programs for international medical graduates, and Rural Health Clinic certification. These programs channel billions of dollars annually to underserved communities.
How does Copper River County compare to other counties in AK?
Copper River County has 30 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 16.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in AK on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Copper River County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more AK shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 02066. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the HRSA Data Warehouse. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →
Every figure on PlainHealthAccess is rendered directly from HRSA source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page lists every HPSA and MUA designation on record for the county. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.