CA · Healthcare shortage profile
Tuolumne County, CA
Home to 55,620 residents, with 36 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 36
- Population
- 55,620
- Peak shortage score
- 22.0
- MUA Index
- 54.5
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Tuolumne County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 36 active HPSA designations, more than 98% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 36
- Active HPSA designations
- 12
- Dental shortages
- 22
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 2%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Tuolumne County carries 36 active designations, above 98% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Tuolumne County falls in the upper half of CA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 16 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: 06109. Population: 55,620.
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 36 active (designated) HPSAs in Tuolumne County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Indian Health Center | dental | 22.0 |
| Mathiesen Memorial Health Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Health and Wellness Center | dental | 20.0 |
| Sonora Indian Health Center | dental | 20.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Indian Health Center | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Sierra Conservation Center | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Mathiesen Memorial Health Clinic | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Health and Wellness Center | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Sonora Indian Health Center | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Physical Therapy | dental | 17.0 |
| Adventist Health Sonora | mental_health | 16.0 |
| ME - Mssa 234.2 and 236/Sonora/East Sonora/Phoenix Reservoir | dental | 16.0 |
| Mact - Sonora Women's Health Clinic | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Physical Therapy | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Mact - Sonora Pediatric Health Clinic | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Optometry | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Dental Center | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Mathiesen Memorial Health Clinic | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Health and Wellness Center | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Sonora Indian Health Center | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Indian Health Center | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Mewu:ya | dental | 15.0 |
| Mact - Sonora Pediatric Health Clinic | dental | 15.0 |
| Mact - Sonora Women's Health Clinic | dental | 15.0 |
| Adventist Health Sonora | dental | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Optometry | dental | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Dental Center | dental | 15.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Mewu:ya | primary_care | 14.0 |
| Adventist Health Sonora | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Physical Therapy | mental_health | 13.0 |
| Mact - Sonora Pediatric Health Clinic | mental_health | 12.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Dental Center | mental_health | 12.0 |
| Mact - Sonora Women's Health Clinic | mental_health | 12.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Optometry | mental_health | 12.0 |
| Tuolumne Me-Wuk Mewu:ya | mental_health | 11.0 |
| Sierra Conservation Center | primary_care | 9.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Tuolumne County
Dental care carries Tuolumne County's deepest shortage reading, 22.0 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 18.0 of 25; Mental health reads 18.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 54.5, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Tuolumne County above 98% of real US counties (36 active designations: 12 primary care, 12 mental health, 12 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.
Tuolumne County falls in the upper half of CA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 16 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.
Tuolumne 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
12 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
12 designations
- Dental
Dental
12 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 Tuolumne 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
Tuolumne County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Tuolumne County's 36 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 Tuolumne County's 22.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuolumne County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Tuolumne County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 54.5. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Tuolumne County have?
Tuolumne County, CA has 36 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 12 in primary care, 12 in mental health, and 12 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Tuolumne County's HPSA score of 22.0 mean?
22.0 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 Tuolumne County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne County's designations unlock?
Tuolumne County's 36 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 Tuolumne County compare to other counties in CA?
Tuolumne County has 36 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 Tuolumne County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more CA shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 06109. 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.