AK · Healthcare shortage profile
Kenai Peninsula County, AK
Home to 58,799 residents, with 48 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 48
- Population
- 58,799
- Peak shortage score
- 20.0
- MUA Index
- MUA
The verdict
Kenai Peninsula County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 48 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 48
- Active HPSA designations
- 17
- Primary-care shortages
- 20
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 1%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 02122. Population: 58,799.
Kenai Peninsula County, AK (population 58,799) has 17 primary care, 16 mental health, and 15 dental Health Professional Shortage Area designations active according to HRSA. The county is also designated a Medically Underserved Area (MUA). 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
Kenai Peninsula County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
48 Top 1% higher than 99% 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
Showing the 40 most-severe of 48 active (designated) HPSAs in Kenai Peninsula County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ninilchik Traditional Council Community Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Nanwalek Village Clinic | dental | 18.0 |
| Seldovia Health Center - Homer | dental | 18.0 |
| PENINSULA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES OF ALASKA, INC. | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Dena'ina Health Center | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Dena'Ina Dental Clinic | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Dena'ina Health Center | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Dena'Ina Dental Clinic | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Chignik Lagoon Village Clinic | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Spring Creek Correctional Center | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Ninilchik Traditional Council Community Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| SELDOVIA VILLAGE TRIBE | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Wildwood Correctional Center | mental_health | 15.0 |
| ME - Kenai Peninsula Borough | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Seldovia Health Center - Homer | mental_health | 13.0 |
| Nanwalek Village Clinic | mental_health | 13.0 |
| PENINSULA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES OF ALASKA, INC. | primary_care | 12.0 |
| SVT Health & Wellness - Seldovia | mental_health | 12.0 |
| Port Graham Village Clinic | mental_health | 12.0 |
| PENINSULA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES OF ALASKA, INC. | dental | 12.0 |
| SELDOVIA VILLAGE TRIBE | dental | 12.0 |
| Chignik Lagoon Village Clinic | dental | 12.0 |
| SEWARD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | mental_health | 11.0 |
| North Star Health Clinic | mental_health | 11.0 |
| North Star Dental | mental_health | 10.0 |
| Chignik Lagoon Village Clinic | mental_health | 10.0 |
| Dena'ina Health Center | dental | 10.0 |
| Port Graham Village Clinic | dental | 10.0 |
| SVT Health & Wellness - Seldovia | dental | 10.0 |
| North Star Health Clinic | dental | 10.0 |
| Tyonek Village Clinic | dental | 10.0 |
| Dena'Ina Dental Clinic | dental | 10.0 |
| SVT Health & Wellness - Seldovia | primary_care | 9.0 |
| Port Graham Village Clinic | primary_care | 9.0 |
| Tyonek Village Clinic | mental_health | 9.0 |
| North Star Dental | dental | 9.0 |
| SELDOVIA VILLAGE TRIBE | primary_care | 8.0 |
| SEWARD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | dental | 8.0 |
| Tyonek Village Clinic | primary_care | 7.0 |
| Wildwood Correctional Center | primary_care | 6.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Kenai Peninsula County
Kenai Peninsula County, AK - population 58,799 carries 48 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 17 in primary care, 16 in mental health, and 15 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area.
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 20.0, which crosses the 17-point threshold HRSA uses to flag high-priority shortage areas eligible for National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary-care scoring reached 16.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 18.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 20.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 48 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Kenai Peninsula County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Kenai Peninsula County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
17 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
16 designations
- Dental
Dental
15 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 Kenai Peninsula 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 Kenai Peninsula County's data
Kenai Peninsula County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Kenai Peninsula County's 48 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 Kenai Peninsula County's 16.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Kenai Peninsula County have?
Kenai Peninsula County, AK has 48 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 17 in primary care, 16 in mental health, and 15 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Kenai Peninsula County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Kenai Peninsula County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is not available. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
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 Kenai Peninsula County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Kenai Peninsula 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 Kenai Peninsula County compare to other counties in AK?
Kenai Peninsula County has 48 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 20.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in AK on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Kenai Peninsula County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more AK shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 02122. 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.