CA · Healthcare shortage profile
San Francisco County, CA
Home to 873,965 residents, with 24 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 24
- Population
- 873,965
- Peak shortage score
- 23.0
- MUA Index
- 54.8
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, San Francisco County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 24 active HPSA designations, more than 96% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 24
- Active HPSA designations
- 8
- Dental shortages
- 23
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 4%
- US counties by volume
San Francisco County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
24 Top 4% higher than 96% 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. San Francisco County falls in the upper half of CA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 20 of 58. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 06075. Population: 873,965.
Single high-priority discipline
San Francisco County's only high-priority (≥17) footprint is dental care
Current HRSA Data Warehouse rows attribute 8 active dental care designations to San Francisco County , with a peak score of 23.0. Other care categories may still be designated here, but none of them clear HRSA's high-priority score line of 17 on the current release, NHSC and related instruments concentrate on the dental care records.
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 24 active (designated) HPSAs in San Francisco County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium | dental | 23.0 |
| Mission Area Health Associates | dental | 23.0 |
| Equity Health | dental | 23.0 |
| Asian And Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Inc. | dental | 21.0 |
| Healthright 360 | dental | 21.0 |
| Friendship House Association of American Indians - San Francisco | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Native American Health Center - Oakland | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Mission Area Health Associates | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Equity Health | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Friendship House Association of American Indians - San Francisco | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Friendship House Association of American Indians - San Francisco | dental | 15.0 |
| Native American Health Center - Oakland | dental | 15.0 |
| Mission Area Health Associates | primary_care | 14.0 |
| Equity Health | primary_care | 14.0 |
| San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium | primary_care | 14.0 |
| Native American Health Center - Oakland | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Asian And Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Inc. | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Healthright 360 | primary_care | 12.0 |
| Healthright 360 | mental_health | 12.0 |
| San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium | mental_health | 12.0 |
| Lyon-Martin Community Health Services | mental_health | 12.0 |
| Lyon-Martin Community Health Services | dental | 11.0 |
| Asian And Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Inc. | mental_health | 10.0 |
| Lyon-Martin Community Health Services | primary_care | 9.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for San Francisco County
Dental care carries San Francisco County's deepest shortage reading, 23.0 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 16.0 of 25; Mental health reads 15.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 54.8, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places San Francisco County above 96% of real US counties (24 active designations: 8 primary care, 8 mental health, 8 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 23.0. 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.
San Francisco County falls in the upper half of CA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 20 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.
Acting on San Francisco County's high-priority dental care
San Francisco County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- San Francisco County's high-priority dental care designations are where NHSC placement geography concentrates, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's dental care burden compares with the rest of CA before drawing conclusions from a single score. CA overview
- Check the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score against HRSA's designation thresholds. 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 San Francisco County's 23.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, San Francisco County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 54.8. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does San Francisco County have?
San Francisco County, CA has 24 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 8 in primary care, 8 in mental health, and 8 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does San Francisco County's HPSA score of 23.0 mean?
23.0 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 San Francisco County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, San Francisco 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 San Francisco County's designations unlock?
San Francisco County's 24 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 San Francisco County compare to other counties in CA?
San Francisco County has 24 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 23.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in CA on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where San Francisco County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Next read: Dental Shortage in America · CA state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 06075. 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 counts active HPSA rows for FIPS 06075 (San Francisco County, CA) 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.