HRSA designation data Public-data reference Medically Underserved Area

AZ · Healthcare shortage profile

Pinal County, AZ

Home to 425,264 residents, with 65 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
65
Population
425,264
Peak shortage score
25.0
MUA Index
50.5

The verdict

Pinal County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 65 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.

65
Active HPSA designations
26
Primary-care shortages
25
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 1%
US counties by volume

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 04021. Population: 425,264.

Pinal County, AZ (population 425,264) has 26 primary care, 22 mental health, and 17 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 50.5. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.

26
Primary Care HPSAs
22
Mental Health HPSAs
17
Dental HPSAs

HPSA Scores

Primary Care 21.0
Mental Health 21.0
Dental 25.0

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

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 50.5

Pinal County vs. every US county

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

65 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%). This entry sits in this band. 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 65 active (designated) HPSAs in Pinal County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
HORIZON HEALTH AND WELLNESS, INC. dental 23.0
ICE - Florence Correctional Center primary_care 21.0
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Florence primary_care 21.0
SUN LIFE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC mental_health 21.0
HORIZON HEALTH AND WELLNESS, INC. mental_health 21.0
Arizona State Prison - Florence mental_health 21.0
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Florence mental_health 21.0
ICE - Florence Correctional Center mental_health 21.0
Hu-Hu-Kam Memorial Hospital dental 20.0
AK CHIN dental 20.0
HORIZON HEALTH AND WELLNESS, INC. primary_care 19.0
Gila River Indian Community primary_care 19.0
Ak Chin RCIS dental 19.0
SUN LIFE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC dental 19.0
LI-Eloy dental 19.0
TONHC Casa Grande Clinic dental 19.0
Hu-Hu-Kam Memorial Hospital primary_care 18.0
SUN LIFE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC primary_care 18.0
Casa Blanca Health Station primary_care 18.0
AK CHIN primary_care 18.0
Ak Chin RCIS primary_care 18.0
TONHC Casa Grande Clinic primary_care 18.0
KEARNY CLINIC primary_care 18.0
Gila River Criminal Justice Facility primary_care 18.0
Ak Chin RCIS mental_health 17.0
KEARNY CLINIC mental_health 17.0
TONHC Casa Grande Clinic mental_health 17.0
AK CHIN mental_health 17.0
KEARNY CLINIC dental 17.0
Casa Blanca Health Station dental 17.0
Gila River Criminal Justice Facility dental 17.0
Eloy primary_care 16.0
SUPERIOR CLINIC mental_health 16.0
Coolidge mental_health 16.0
LI-Arizona City dental 16.0
LI-Coolidge dental 16.0
San Tan Valley primary_care 15.0
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Eloy primary_care 15.0
Eloy mental_health 15.0
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Eloy mental_health 15.0

What the HRSA Data Shows for Pinal County

Pinal County, AZ - population 425,264 carries 65 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 26 in primary care, 22 in mental health, and 17 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 50.5 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 21.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 25.0 (0–26 scale).

HRSA lists 65 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Pinal County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.

Pinal 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 Pinal 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 Pinal County's data

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

  • Pinal County's 65 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many healthcare shortage areas does Pinal County have?

Pinal County, AZ has 65 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 26 in primary care, 22 in mental health, and 17 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

Is Pinal County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Pinal County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 50.5. 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 Pinal County?

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

Pinal County has 65 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 Pinal County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 04021. 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.

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.