HRSA designation data Public-data reference Medically Underserved Area

AZ · Healthcare shortage profile

Navajo County, AZ

Home to 106,717 residents, with 59 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
59
Population
106,717
Peak shortage score
24.0
MUA Index
38.1
AZ state overview → About this data

The verdict

Navajo County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 59 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with mental health the deepest gap.

59
Active HPSA designations
18
Primary-care shortages
24
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 1%
US counties by volume

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 04017. Population: 106,717.

Navajo County, AZ (population 106,717) has 18 primary care, 21 mental health, and 20 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 38.1. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.

18
Primary Care HPSAs
21
Mental Health HPSAs
20
Dental HPSAs

HPSA Scores

Primary Care 21.0
Mental Health 21.0
Dental 24.0

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

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 38.1

Navajo County vs. every US county

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

59 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%). This entry sits in this band. 60–80: 6 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 80–100: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 100–120: 2 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 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 59 active (designated) HPSAs in Navajo County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
CIBECUE HEALTH CENTER dental 24.0
Whiteriver Hospital dental 24.0
PINON HEALTH CENTER dental 24.0
White Mountain Apache Tribe dental 24.0
CIBECUE HEADSTART dental 23.0
WHITE MTN APACHE HEADSTART dental 23.0
White Mountain Apache Behavioral Health Services (Guidance Center) dental 23.0
Mary V. Riley Seven Mile Sch dental 23.0
EAST FORK LUTHERAN SCHOOL dental 23.0
MCNARY HEADSTART dental 23.0
WHITERIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL dental 23.0
Cradleboard Elementary School dental 23.0
KAYENTA HEALTH CENTER dental 22.0
HOPI HEALTH CARE CENTER dental 22.0
Winslow Indian Health Care Center dental 22.0
CF-Arizona State Prison-Winslow primary_care 21.0
PINON HEALTH CENTER mental_health 21.0
EAST FORK LUTHERAN SCHOOL primary_care 20.0
WHITE MTN APACHE HEADSTART primary_care 20.0
Whiteriver Hospital primary_care 20.0
Cradleboard Elementary School primary_care 20.0
WHITERIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL primary_care 20.0
PINON HEALTH CENTER primary_care 20.0
MCNARY HEADSTART primary_care 20.0
Mary V. Riley Seven Mile Sch primary_care 20.0
White Mountain Apache Behavioral Health Services (Guidance Center) primary_care 20.0
KAYENTA HEALTH CENTER mental_health 20.0
HOPI HEALTH CARE CENTER mental_health 20.0
EAST FORK LUTHERAN SCHOOL mental_health 20.0
LI - White Mountain Apache Tribe mental_health 20.0
Winslow Indian Health Care Center primary_care 19.0
CIBECUE HEALTH CENTER primary_care 19.0
KAYENTA HEALTH CENTER primary_care 19.0
HOPI HEALTH CARE CENTER primary_care 19.0
CIBECUE HEADSTART primary_care 19.0
CIBECUE HEALTH CENTER mental_health 19.0
Whiteriver Hospital mental_health 19.0
Winslow Indian Health Care Center mental_health 19.0
MCNARY HEADSTART mental_health 19.0
LITTLE COLORADO PHYSICIANS OFFICE mental_health 19.0

What the HRSA Data Shows for Navajo County

Navajo County, AZ - population 106,717 carries 59 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 18 in primary care, 21 in mental health, and 20 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 38.1 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 21.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 21.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 24.0 (0–26 scale).

HRSA lists 59 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Navajo County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.

Navajo 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 Navajo 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 Navajo County's data

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

  • Navajo County's 59 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 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 Navajo 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.

Maricopa County, AZ

21.0 score 4,420,568 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many healthcare shortage areas does Navajo County have?

Navajo County, AZ has 59 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 18 in primary care, 21 in mental health, and 20 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

Is Navajo County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Navajo County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 38.1. 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 Navajo County?

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

Navajo County has 59 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 24.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in AZ on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Navajo County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Learn More About Healthcare Shortages

Explore more AZ shortage data

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 04017. 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.