AK · Healthcare shortage profile
North Slope County, AK
Home to 11,031 residents, with 26 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 26
- Population
- 11,031
- Peak shortage score
- 18.0
- MUA Index
- 57.0
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, North Slope County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 26 active HPSA designations, more than 97% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 26
- Active HPSA designations
- 9
- Mental-health shortages
- 18
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 3%
- US counties by volume
North Slope County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
26 Top 3% higher than 97% of 3,289 real US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more real 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
State peer position. North Slope County falls in the upper half of AK counties by active-designation volume, at rank 15 of 31. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 02185. Population: 11,031.
Medically Underserved Area
Peak severity scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 26 active (designated) HPSAs in North Slope County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| MHCA-Northwest Region | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Atqasuk Health Clinic | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Nuiqsut Health Clinic | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Kaktovik Village Clinic | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Wainwright Health Clinic | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Point Lay Village Clinic | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Anaktuvuk Pass Clinic | primary_care | 16.0 |
| North Slope Borough | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Point Hope Village Clinic Cha/p Services | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital | dental | 16.0 |
| Atqasuk Health Clinic | dental | 16.0 |
| Nuiqsut Health Clinic | dental | 16.0 |
| Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Atqasuk Health Clinic | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Anaktuvuk Pass Clinic | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Point Hope Village Clinic Cha/p Services | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Kaktovik Village Clinic | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Point Lay Village Clinic | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Wainwright Health Clinic | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Point Lay Village Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Point Hope Village Clinic Cha/p Services | dental | 14.0 |
| Kaktovik Village Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Wainwright Health Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Anaktuvuk Pass Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Nuiqsut Health Clinic | mental_health | 13.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for North Slope County
North Slope County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 18.0 of 25, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 17.0 of 25; Dental care reads 16.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 57.0, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places North Slope County above 97% of real US counties (26 active designations: 9 primary care, 9 mental health, 8 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 18.0. The table on this page lists the highest-severity records first so a reader can see which named facilities, geographies, or population groups drive that burden without treating the county total as a personal appointment forecast.
North Slope County falls in the upper half of AK counties by active-designation volume, at rank 15 of 31. Heavy-burden counties are where NHSC placement, Community Health Center grant geography, and related federal instruments concentrate; eligibility still follows the designated area and provider type, not the county boundary alone.
North Slope County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category (high-priority disciplines emphasized).
- Primary care
Primary care
9 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
9 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 North Slope 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.
Acting on a heavy-burden county
North Slope County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- North Slope County's 26 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 ratio checker
HPSA scores describe shortage severity within HRSA's designation criteria, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; use HRSA's current tools to verify a designation.
Counties With a Similar Mental Health Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose active HRSA mental-health HPSA score is closest to North Slope County's 18.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Slope County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, North Slope County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 57.0. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does North Slope County have?
North Slope County, AK has 26 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 9 in primary care, 9 in mental health, and 8 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does North Slope County's HPSA score of 18.0 mean?
18.0 in mental health clears 17, HRSA's high-priority line, which is what makes providers here eligible for NHSC placement and enhanced reimbursement.
What healthcare providers are needed in North Slope County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, North Slope 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.
Which federal programs do North Slope County's designations unlock?
North Slope County's 26 active designations open NHSC placement, Community Health Center grants, the Medicare bonus and J-1 waivers, but eligibility follows the designated area and provider type, not the county line.
How does North Slope County compare to other counties in AK?
North Slope County has 26 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 18.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in AK on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where North Slope County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 02185. 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.