AR · Healthcare shortage profile
Drew County, AR
Home to 17,350 residents, with 6 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 6
- Population
- 17,350
- Peak shortage score
- 26.0
- MUA Index
- 58.6
Mid-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Drew 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
- Dental shortages
- 26
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 46%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Drew County carries 6 active designations, above 54% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Drew County falls in the upper half of AR counties by active-designation volume, at rank 23 of 75. Ties share a rank.
Computed from current designated HPSA rows for every five-digit county FIPS. See the placement methodology.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 05043. Population: 17,350.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
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 Drew County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Mainline Health Systems Inc | dental | 26.0 |
| Mainline Health Systems Inc | primary_care | 21.0 |
| LI-Monticello Mhca | mental_health | 21.0 |
| LI - Drew County | dental | 19.0 |
| Mainline Health Systems Inc | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Drew County | primary_care | 12.0 |
Moderate-burden reading for Drew County
Dental care carries Drew County's deepest shortage reading, 26.0 on HRSA's 0–26 dental scale, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 21.0 of 25; Mental health reads 21.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 58.6, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Drew 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.
Drew 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.
Drew County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category (high-priority disciplines emphasized).
- Primary care
Primary care
2 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
2 designations
- Dental
Dental
2 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 Drew 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 Drew County's designations
Drew County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Drew 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 dental score peers
Closest U.S. counties on active dental HPSA score to Drew County's 26.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drew County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Drew County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 58.6. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Drew County have?
Drew 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 Drew County's HPSA score of 26.0 mean?
26.0 in dental care 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 Drew County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Drew 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: Dental Shortage in America · AR state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 05043. 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.