Medically Underserved Area Two high-priority disciplines

AR · Healthcare shortage profile

Dallas County, AR

Home to 6,482 residents, with 6 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
6
Population
6,482
Peak shortage score
18.0
MUA Index
55.2

Mid-burden verdict

According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Dallas County holds a moderate federal shortage burden - 6 active HPSA designations, more than 54% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.

6
Active HPSA designations
2
Mental-health shortages
18
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 46%
US counties by volume

Dallas County vs. every real US county

Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none

6 Top 46% higher than 54% of 3,289 real US counties

0–20: 3,115 real US counties (95%). This entry sits in this band. 20–40: 128 real US counties (4%). Above this entry. 40–60: 32 real US counties (1%). Above this entry. 60–80: 7 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 80–100: 2 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 100–120: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 120–140: 2 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 140–160: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 160–180: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 180–200: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 200–220: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 220–240: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 240–260: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 260–280: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0 280 every real US county, bucketed by value

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. Dallas County falls in the upper half of AR counties by active-designation volume, at rank 23 of 75. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 05039. Population: 6,482.

2
Mental Health HPSAs
2
Primary Care HPSAs

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 55.2

Active HPSA scores

Primary Care 17.0
Mental Health 18.0
Dental 15.0

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

Highest-severity HPSA designations

All 6 active (designated) HPSAs in Dallas County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
El Dorado Catchment Area mental_health 18.0
LI-Dallas County primary_care 17.0
Dallas County Medical Center Family Clinic primary_care 16.0
Dallas County Medical Center Family Clinic dental 15.0
Dallas County Medical Center Family Clinic mental_health 13.0
LI - Dallas County dental 11.0

Moderate-burden reading for Dallas County

Dallas 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 15.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 55.2, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.

Dallas County sits in the middle of the national designation-volume distribution (above 54% of counties) with 6 active records. That is enough for a formal shortage footprint without landing in the heaviest US tier. Compare the three discipline counts (2/2/2) before assuming every care category is equally short.

Dallas County falls in the upper half of AR counties by active-designation volume, at rank 23 of 75. For moderate counties, the useful move is usually a state peer check plus the score cards above, not a national superlative claim.

Dallas County designations by care type

Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category (high-priority disciplines emphasized).

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 Dallas County, AR · 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 Dallas County's designations

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

  • Dallas County's 6 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 AR before you draw conclusions from a single score. AR 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.

Nearby mental-health score peers

Closest U.S. counties on active mental-health HPSA score to Dallas County's 18.0.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dallas County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Dallas County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 55.2. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.

How many healthcare shortage areas does Dallas County have?

Dallas County, AR has 6 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 2 in primary care, 2 in mental health, and 2 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

What does Dallas 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 Dallas County?

Based on HRSA shortage designations, Dallas 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.

Next read: The Mental-Health Provider Shortage · AR state overview · NHSC loan repayment

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 05039. 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 counts active HPSA rows for FIPS 05039 (Dallas County, AR) from the current HRSA release and places that total among all real US counties. Designations describe federal shortage criteria, not appointment availability or care quality for any person. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, review the public data changelog, or report a data issue for this page. Data current as of 2026-08-03.