CT · Healthcare shortage profile
Greater Bridgeport County, CT
Home to 326,381 residents, with 10 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 10
- Population
- 326,381
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- -
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Greater Bridgeport County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 10 active HPSA designations, more than 83% of the 3,289 real US counties, with mental health the deepest gap.
- 10
- Active HPSA designations
- 3
- Dental shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 17%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Greater Bridgeport County carries 10 active designations, above 83% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Greater Bridgeport County falls in the upper half of CT counties by active-designation volume, at rank 5 of 17. 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: 09120. Population: 326,381.
Peak severity scores
Current designated records only. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers Greater Bridgeport County in the current HRSA release, federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 10 active (designated) HPSAs in Greater Bridgeport County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Optimus Health Care, Inc | dental | 25.0 |
| Southwest Community Health Center Inc | dental | 25.0 |
| Optimus Health Care, Inc | mental_health | 22.0 |
| Southwest Community Health Center Inc | mental_health | 21.0 |
| Southwest Community Health Center Inc | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Optimus Health Care, Inc | primary_care | 19.0 |
| LI - Bridgeport | dental | 19.0 |
| LI-Bridgeport | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Catchments 3 and 4 Bridgeport Service Area | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Region 2 | mental_health | 16.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Greater Bridgeport County
Dental care carries Greater Bridgeport 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 19.0 of 25; Mental health reads 22.0 of 25. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers Greater Bridgeport County, so federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone.
Volume places Greater Bridgeport County above 83% of real US counties (10 active designations: 3 primary care, 4 mental health, 3 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.
Greater Bridgeport County falls in the upper half of CT counties by active-designation volume, at rank 5 of 17. 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.
Greater Bridgeport County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category (high-priority disciplines emphasized).
- Mental health
Mental health
4 designations
- Primary care
Primary care
3 designations
- Dental
Dental
3 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 Greater Bridgeport County, CT · 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
Greater Bridgeport County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Greater Bridgeport County's 10 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 mental health burden compares with the rest of CT before you draw conclusions from a single score. CT 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 Greater Bridgeport County's 25.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Greater Bridgeport County have?
Greater Bridgeport County, CT has 10 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 3 in primary care, 4 in mental health, and 3 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Greater Bridgeport County a Medically Underserved Area?
Greater Bridgeport County does not currently have a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designation from HRSA. However, the county may still have individual HPSA designations for specific provider types.
What does Greater Bridgeport 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 Greater Bridgeport County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Greater Bridgeport 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 Greater Bridgeport County's designations unlock?
Greater Bridgeport County's 10 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 Greater Bridgeport County compare to other counties in CT?
Greater Bridgeport County has 10 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in CT on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Greater Bridgeport County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more CT shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 09120. 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.