FL · Healthcare shortage profile
Columbia County, FL
Home to 69,698 residents, with 16 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 16
- Population
- 69,698
- Peak shortage score
- 21.0
- MUA Index
- 60.4
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Columbia County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 16 active HPSA designations, more than 92% of the 3,289 real US counties, with mental health the deepest gap.
- 16
- Active HPSA designations
- 6
- Mental-health shortages
- 21
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 8%
- US counties by volume
Columbia County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
16 Top 8% higher than 92% 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. Columbia County falls in the upper quarter of FL counties by active-designation volume, at rank 7 of 67. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 12023. Population: 69,698.
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 16 active (designated) HPSAs in Columbia County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| CF-Lake City Correctional Facility | mental_health | 21.0 |
| CF-Columbia Correctional Institution/Annex | mental_health | 21.0 |
| LI-Columbia County | dental | 18.0 |
| Grace Pediatrics PL | dental | 18.0 |
| Grace Pediatrics PL | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Lutheran Service Mhca - Circuit 3 | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Children's Medical Center | dental | 17.0 |
| North Florida Pediatrics PA | dental | 16.0 |
| Children's Medical Center | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Children's Medical Center | mental_health | 15.0 |
| North Florida Pediatrics PA | primary_care | 14.0 |
| Grace Pediatrics PL | mental_health | 14.0 |
| North Florida Pediatrics PA | mental_health | 13.0 |
| LI - Columbia County | primary_care | 11.0 |
| CF-Columbia Correctional Institution/Annex | primary_care | 3.0 |
| CF-Columbia Correctional Institution/Annex | dental | 3.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Columbia County
Columbia County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 21.0 of 25, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 17.0 of 25; Dental care reads 18.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 60.4, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Columbia County above 92% of real US counties (16 active designations: 5 primary care, 6 mental health, 5 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 21.0. 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.
Columbia County falls in the upper quarter of FL counties by active-designation volume, at rank 7 of 67. 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 Columbia County, FL · 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
Columbia County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Columbia County's 16 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 FL before you draw conclusions from a single score. FL 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 Columbia County's 21.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbia County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Columbia County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 60.4. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Columbia County have?
Columbia County, FL has 16 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 5 in primary care, 6 in mental health, and 5 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Columbia County's HPSA score of 21.0 mean?
21.0 in mental health 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 Columbia County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Columbia 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 Columbia County's designations unlock?
Columbia County's 16 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 Columbia County compare to other counties in FL?
Columbia County has 16 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 21.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in FL on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Columbia County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more FL shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 12023. 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.