AK · Healthcare shortage profile
Northwest Arctic County, AK
Home to 7,793 residents, with 46 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 46
- Population
- 7,793
- Peak shortage score
- 24.0
- MUA Index
- 37.2
The verdict
Northwest Arctic County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 46 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with mental health the deepest gap.
- 46
- Active HPSA designations
- 15
- Primary-care shortages
- 24
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 1%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 02188. Population: 7,793.
Northwest Arctic County, AK (population 7,793) has 15 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) with an MUA Index of 37.2. 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
Northwest Arctic County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
46 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 46 active (designated) HPSAs in Northwest Arctic County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Maniilaq Association | dental | 24.0 |
| Kivalina Village Clinic | dental | 22.0 |
| Maniilaq Association | primary_care | 20.0 |
| Selawik Village Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Pauline Aliitchaq Barr Health Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Tigautchiaq Amainiq Health Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Noorvik Village Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Shungnak Village Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Kobuk Village Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Esther Barger Memorial Health Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Ambler Village Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Kiana Village Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Kivalina Village Clinic | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Selawik Village Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Shungnak Village Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Ambler Village Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Esther Barger Memorial Health Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Noorvik Village Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Kiana Village Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Tigautchiaq Amainiq Health Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Pauline Aliitchaq Barr Health Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Kobuk Village Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Maniilaq Association | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Northwest Arctic Borough | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Lake Street House - Kotzebue | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Kivalina Village Clinic | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Kobuk Village Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Ambler Village Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Shungnak Village Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Kiana Village Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Pauline Aliitchaq Barr Health Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Selawik Village Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Tigautchiaq Amainiq Health Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Esther Barger Memorial Health Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Noorvik Village Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Lake Street House - Kotzebue | dental | 15.0 |
| Lake Street House - Kotzebue | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Maniilaq Health Center (Hospital) | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Putyuk Childrens' Home - Kotzebue | mental_health | 13.0 |
| Maniilaq Family Crisis Center | mental_health | 13.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Northwest Arctic County
Northwest Arctic County, AK - population 7,793 carries 46 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 15 in primary care, 16 in mental health, and 15 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 37.2 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 24.0, 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 20.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 17.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 24.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 46 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Northwest Arctic County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Northwest Arctic County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Mental health
Mental health
16 designations
- Primary care
Primary care
15 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 Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic County's data
Northwest Arctic County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Northwest Arctic County's 46 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 mental health 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 Northwest Arctic County's 20.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Northwest Arctic County have?
Northwest Arctic County, AK has 46 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 15 in primary care, 16 in mental health, and 15 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Northwest Arctic County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Northwest Arctic County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 37.2. 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 Northwest Arctic County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic County compare to other counties in AK?
Northwest Arctic County has 46 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 24.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in AK on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Northwest Arctic County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more AK shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 02188. 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.