CA · Healthcare shortage profile
Los Angeles County, CA
Home to 10,014,009 residents, with 268 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 268
- Population
- 10,014,009
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 47.9
The verdict
Los Angeles County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 268 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 268
- Active HPSA designations
- 94
- Primary-care shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 1%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 06037. Population: 10,014,009.
Los Angeles County, CA (population 10,014,009) has 94 primary care, 85 mental health, and 89 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 47.9. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.
HPSA Scores
Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Medically Underserved Area
Los Angeles County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
268 Top 1% higher than 99% of 2,991 US counties
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 268 active (designated) HPSAs in Los Angeles County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH FOUNDATION | dental | 25.0 |
| BARTZ-ALTADONNA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | dental | 25.0 |
| COMMUNITY MEDICAL WELLNESS CENTERS, USA | dental | 25.0 |
| AGHABY COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | dental | 25.0 |
| NORTHEAST COMMUNITY CLINIC | dental | 25.0 |
| ST. ANTHONY MEDICAL CENTERS, A NONPROFIT CORPORATION | dental | 25.0 |
| THE R.O.A.D.S. FOUNDATION, INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| SAMUEL DIXON FAMILY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| COMMUNITY MEDICINE INC | dental | 25.0 |
| YEHOWA MEDICAL SERVICES | dental | 25.0 |
| WATTS HEALTHCARE CORP | dental | 25.0 |
| CLINICA MSR. OSCAR A ROMERO | dental | 25.0 |
| SOUTH CENTRAL FAMILY HEALTH CENTER | dental | 25.0 |
| BENEVOLENCE INDUSTRIES INC | dental | 25.0 |
| THE CLINIC, INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | dental | 25.0 |
| WILMINGTON COMMUNITY CLINIC | dental | 25.0 |
| UNIVERSITY MUSLIM MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC | dental | 25.0 |
| HARBOR COMMUNITY CLINIC | dental | 25.0 |
| DE NOVO HEALTH CARE, INC | dental | 25.0 |
| KEDREN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| LOS ANGELES CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTERS | dental | 25.0 |
| PEDIATRIC AND FAMILY MEDICAL FOUNDATION | dental | 25.0 |
| ST. JOHN'S COMMUNITY HEALTH | dental | 25.0 |
| SERENITY CARE HEALTH GROUP | dental | 25.0 |
| The Children's Clinic, Serving Children And Their Families | dental | 25.0 |
| BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| LOS ANGELES FREE CLINIC., THE | dental | 23.0 |
| WHITE MEMORIAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION | dental | 23.0 |
| TARZANA TREATMENT CENTERS, INC. | dental | 23.0 |
| JWCH INSTITUTE, INC. | dental | 23.0 |
| EL PROYECTO DEL BARRIO, INC. | dental | 23.0 |
| ASIAN PACIFIC HEALTH CARE VENTURE, INC. | dental | 23.0 |
| CENTRAL CITY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC | dental | 23.0 |
| KOREAN HEALTH, EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND RESEARCH CENTER | dental | 23.0 |
| VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE | dental | 23.0 |
| ALL FOR HEALTH, HEALTH FOR ALL, INC. | dental | 23.0 |
| ARROYO VISTA FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION | dental | 23.0 |
| AAA COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE INC. | dental | 23.0 |
| MISSION CITY COMMUNITY NETWORK, INC | dental | 23.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, CA - population 10,014,009 carries 268 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 94 in primary care, 85 in mental health, and 89 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 47.9 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 22.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 25.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 268 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Los Angeles County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Los Angeles County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
94 designations
- Dental
Dental
89 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
85 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 Los Angeles 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.
What to do with Los Angeles County's data
Los Angeles County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Los Angeles County's 268 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 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.
Counties With a Similar Primary Care Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose HRSA primary-care HPSA score is closest to Los Angeles County's 21.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Los Angeles County have?
Los Angeles County, CA has 268 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 94 in primary care, 85 in mental health, and 89 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Los Angeles County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Los Angeles County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 47.9. 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 Los Angeles County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles County compare to other counties in CA?
Los Angeles County has 268 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 Los Angeles County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more CA shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 06037. 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.
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.