HRSA designation data Public-data reference Medically Underserved Area

AZ · Healthcare shortage profile

Maricopa County, AZ

Home to 4,420,568 residents, with 114 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
114
Population
4,420,568
Peak shortage score
25.0
MUA Index
47.3
AZ state overview → About this data

The verdict

Maricopa County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 114 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.

114
Active HPSA designations
42
Primary-care shortages
25
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 1%
US counties by volume

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 04013. Population: 4,420,568.

Maricopa County, AZ (population 4,420,568) has 42 primary care, 32 mental health, and 40 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 47.3. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.

42
Primary Care HPSAs
32
Mental Health HPSAs
40
Dental HPSAs

HPSA Scores

Primary Care 21.0
Mental Health 20.0
Dental 25.0

Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 47.3

Maricopa County vs. every US county

Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally

114 Top 1% higher than 99% of 2,991 US counties

0–20: 2,828 US counties (95%). Below this entry. 20–40: 124 US counties (4%). Below this entry. 40–60: 27 US counties (1%). Below this entry. 60–80: 6 US counties (0%). Below this entry. 80–100: 1 US counties (0%). Below this entry. 100–120: 2 US counties (0%). This entry sits in this band. 120–140: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 140–160: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 160–180: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 180–200: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 200–220: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 220–240: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 240–260: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 260–280: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0 280 every US county with a designation, bucketed by value

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 114 active (designated) HPSAs in Maricopa County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
CIRCLE THE CITY dental 25.0
MOUNTAIN PARK HEALTH CENTER dental 25.0
ADELANTE HEALTHCARE INC dental 25.0
WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER INC dental 23.0
NATIVE HEALTH dental 23.0
VALLE DEL SOL, INC dental 23.0
MARICOPA COUNTY SPECIAL HEALTH CARE DISTRICT dental 23.0
LI-Gila River Indian Community dental 22.0
CIRCLE THE CITY primary_care 21.0
Arizona State Prison - Lewis primary_care 21.0
TERROS INC dental 21.0
NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH ACCESS TO HEALTH dental 21.0
Tohono O’odham Nation primary_care 20.0
Phoenix Indian Medical Center dental 20.0
WASSAJA HEALTH CENTER dental 20.0
KOMATKE HEALTH CENTER dental 20.0
Native American Connections, Inc. - Integrated Clinic dental 20.0
LI-Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community dental 20.0
NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH ACCESS TO HEALTH primary_care 19.0
MOUNTAIN PARK HEALTH CENTER primary_care 19.0
ADELANTE HEALTHCARE INC primary_care 19.0
MARICOPA COUNTY SPECIAL HEALTH CARE DISTRICT primary_care 19.0
WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER INC primary_care 19.0
NATIVE HEALTH primary_care 19.0
TERROS INC primary_care 19.0
ADELANTE HEALTHCARE INC mental_health 19.0
SALT RIVER dental 19.0
San Tan Behavioral Health Services dental 19.0
LI-Tempe - North dental 19.0
Gila Bend Health Station dental 19.0
Guadalupe Health Complex dental 19.0
LI-Glendale - Central dental 19.0
LI-Phoenix - Maryvale East dental 19.0
Native Health - Mesa primary_care 18.0
Gila Bend Health Station primary_care 18.0
LI-Phoenix - Maryvale East primary_care 18.0
SALT RIVER primary_care 18.0
WASSAJA HEALTH CENTER primary_care 18.0
Phoenix Indian Medical Center primary_care 18.0
Walupe Health Center primary_care 18.0

What the HRSA Data Shows for Maricopa County

Maricopa County, AZ - population 4,420,568 carries 114 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 42 in primary care, 32 in mental health, and 40 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 47.3 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).

The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 25.0, 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 21.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 20.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 25.0 (0–26 scale).

HRSA lists 114 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Maricopa County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.

Maricopa County designations by care type

Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.

designations
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs As of 2026

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Maricopa County, AZ · 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 Maricopa County's data

Maricopa County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.

  • Maricopa County's 114 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 AZ before you draw conclusions from a single score. AZ 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 Maricopa County's 21.0.

Los Angeles County, CA

21.0 score 10,014,009 pop.

Cook County, IL

21.0 score 5,275,541 pop.

Miami-Dade County, FL

21.0 score 2,701,767 pop.

Dallas County, TX

21.0 score 2,613,539 pop.

King County, WA

21.0 score 2,269,675 pop.

Tarrant County, TX

21.0 score 2,110,640 pop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many healthcare shortage areas does Maricopa County have?

Maricopa County, AZ has 114 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 42 in primary care, 32 in mental health, and 40 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

Is Maricopa County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Maricopa County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 47.3. 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 Maricopa County?

Based on HRSA shortage designations, Maricopa 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 Maricopa County compare to other counties in AZ?

Maricopa County has 114 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in AZ on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Maricopa County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Learn More About Healthcare Shortages

Explore more AZ shortage data

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 04013. 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.