CA · Healthcare shortage profile
Fresno County, CA
Home to 1,008,654 residents, with 96 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 96
- Population
- 1,008,654
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 53.9
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Fresno County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 96 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 96
- Active HPSA designations
- 32
- Dental shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 1%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Fresno County carries 96 active designations, above 99% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Fresno County sits among the top three county rank positions in CA, at rank 2 of 58. 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: 06019. Population: 1,008,654.
Medically Underserved Area
Peak severity scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
Showing the 40 most-severe of 96 active (designated) HPSAs in Fresno County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| United Health Centers OF The San Joaquin Valley | dental | 25.0 |
| Valley Health Team, Inc. | dental | 25.0 |
| Fci - Mendota | primary_care | 24.0 |
| Fci - Mendota | mental_health | 24.0 |
| Greater Fresno Health Organization, Inc. | dental | 23.0 |
| Todos Para LA Salud | dental | 23.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health, Bullard Clinic | dental | 22.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health Clinic | dental | 22.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health, Prather Clinic | dental | 22.0 |
| Fresno American Indian Health Project | dental | 22.0 |
| LI Mssa 25-Firebaugh | dental | 22.0 |
| LI Mssa 26-San Joaquin | dental | 22.0 |
| Valley Health Team, Inc. | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Greater Fresno Health Organization, Inc. | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Todos Para LA Salud | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Fresno American Indian Health Project | mental_health | 21.0 |
| Valley Health Team, Inc. | mental_health | 21.0 |
| United Health Centers OF The San Joaquin Valley | mental_health | 21.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health Clinic | mental_health | 20.0 |
| Todos Para LA Salud | mental_health | 20.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health, Prather Clinic | mental_health | 20.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health, Bullard Clinic | mental_health | 20.0 |
| United Health Centers OF The San Joaquin Valley | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health Clinic | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Fresno American Indian Health Project | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health, Prather Clinic | primary_care | 19.0 |
| ME - Mssa 35d/Fresno East Central | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Central Valley Indian Health, Bullard Clinic | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Greater Fresno Health Organization, Inc. | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Table Mountain Rancheria Medical Clinic | dental | 19.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Table Mountain Rancheria Medical Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 18.0 |
| LI-Mfw Mssa 26- San Joaquin | primary_care | 18.0 |
| LI - Mssa 35e - Fresno South and West | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Table Mountain Rancheria Medical Clinic | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Fci - Mendota | dental | 18.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 17.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Fresno County
Dental care carries Fresno County's deepest shortage reading, 25.0 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 24.0 of 25; Mental health reads 24.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 53.9, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Fresno County above 99% of real US counties (96 active designations: 33 primary care, 31 mental health, 32 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 25.0. The table on this page lists the highest-severity records first so a reader can see which named facilities, geographies, or population groups drive that burden without treating the county total as a personal appointment forecast.
Fresno County sits among the top three county rank positions in CA, at rank 2 of 58. Heavy-burden counties are where NHSC placement, Community Health Center grant geography, and related federal instruments concentrate; eligibility still follows the designated area and provider type, not the county boundary alone.
Fresno 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
33 designations
- Dental
Dental
32 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
31 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 Fresno County, CA · 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 a heavy-burden county
Fresno County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Fresno County's 96 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 CA before you draw conclusions from a single score. CA 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.
Counties With a Similar Dental Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose active HRSA dental HPSA score is closest to Fresno County's 25.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fresno County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Fresno County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 53.9. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Fresno County have?
Fresno County, CA has 96 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 33 in primary care, 31 in mental health, and 32 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Fresno County's HPSA score of 25.0 mean?
25.0 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 Fresno County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Fresno 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.
Which federal programs do Fresno County's designations unlock?
Fresno County's 96 active designations open NHSC placement, Community Health Center grants, the Medicare bonus and J-1 waivers, but eligibility follows the designated area and provider type, not the county line.
How does Fresno County compare to other counties in CA?
Fresno County has 96 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in CA on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Fresno County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more CA shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 06019. 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.