CA · Healthcare shortage profile
Kings County, CA
Home to 152,486 residents, with 38 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 38
- Population
- 152,486
- Peak shortage score
- 22.0
- MUA Index
- 59.2
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Kings County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 38 active HPSA designations, more than 98% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 38
- Active HPSA designations
- 13
- Mental-health shortages
- 22
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 2%
- US counties by volume
Kings County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
38 Top 2% higher than 98% of 3,289 real US counties
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. Kings County falls in the upper half of CA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 15 of 58. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 06031. Population: 152,486.
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
All 38 active (designated) HPSAs in Kings County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Aria Community Health Center | mental_health | 22.0 |
| Tachi Medical Clinic | dental | 22.0 |
| LI Mssa 67-Avenal | dental | 20.0 |
| Aria Community Health Center | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Tachi Medical Clinic | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Tachi Medical Clinic | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Aria Community Health Center | dental | 19.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Mssa 67 - Avenal | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | dental | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | dental | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Mssa 68/Corcoran | primary_care | 15.0 |
| LI Mssa 69 - Hanford | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facility | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | dental | 13.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | dental | 13.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | dental | 13.0 |
| CF-Substance Abuse Treatment Facility - Corcoran | primary_care | 12.0 |
| Avenal State Prison | primary_care | 12.0 |
| CF-Avenal State Prison | mental_health | 12.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | dental | 11.0 |
| Adventist Health Reedley | dental | 9.0 |
| ME Mssa 69 - Armona/Hanford/Lemoore | dental | 7.0 |
| CF-Substance Abuse Treatment Facility - Corcoran | mental_health | 6.0 |
| California State Prison - Corcoran | mental_health | 6.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Kings County
Kings County's shortage runs equally deep in mental health and dental care: both scored 22.0 by HRSA, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 19.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 59.2, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Kings County above 98% of real US counties (38 active designations: 14 primary care, 13 mental health, 11 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 22.0. 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.
Kings County falls in the upper half of CA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 15 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.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Kings 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
Kings County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Kings County's 38 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 Mental Health Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose active HRSA mental-health HPSA score is closest to Kings County's 22.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kings County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Kings County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 59.2. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Kings County have?
Kings County, CA has 38 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 14 in primary care, 13 in mental health, and 11 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Kings County's HPSA score of 22.0 mean?
22.0 in mental health and 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 Kings County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Kings 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 Kings County's designations unlock?
Kings County's 38 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 Kings County compare to other counties in CA?
Kings County has 38 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 22.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in CA on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Kings County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more CA shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 06031. 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.