ID · Healthcare shortage profile
Bear Lake County, ID
Home to 6,372 residents, with 9 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 9
- Population
- 6,372
- Peak shortage score
- 17.0
- MUA Index
- -
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Bear Lake County carries a heavier shortage burden than most US counties - 9 active HPSA designations, more than 75% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 9
- Active HPSA designations
- 3
- Mental-health shortages
- 17
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 25%
- US counties by volume
Bear Lake County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
9 Top 25% higher than 75% 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. Bear Lake County falls in the upper quarter of ID counties by active-designation volume, at rank 6 of 44. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 16007. Population: 6,372.
Single high-priority discipline
Bear Lake County's only high-priority (≥17) footprint is mental health
Current HRSA Data Warehouse rows attribute 3 active mental health designations to Bear Lake County , with a peak score of 17.0. 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 mental health records.
Peak severity scores
Current designated records only. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers Bear Lake 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 9 active (designated) HPSAs in Bear Lake County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| District 6 - Southeastern Mental Health Catchment Area | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Bear Lake Internal Medicine | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Bear Lake Family Care & Ob/gyn | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Bear Lake Family Care & Ob/gyn | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Bear Lake Internal Medicine | mental_health | 16.0 |
| LI - Bear Lake County | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Bear Lake Family Care & Ob/gyn | dental | 13.0 |
| Bear Lake Internal Medicine | dental | 13.0 |
| LI - Bear Lake County | dental | 10.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Bear Lake County
Bear Lake County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 17.0 of 25, 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; Dental care reads 13.0 of 26. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers Bear Lake County, so federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone.
Volume places Bear Lake County above 75% of real US counties (9 active designations: 3 primary care, 3 mental health, 3 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 17.0. 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.
Bear Lake County falls in the upper quarter of ID counties by active-designation volume, at rank 6 of 44. 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 Bear Lake County's high-priority mental health
Bear Lake County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Bear Lake County's high-priority mental health designations are where NHSC placement geography concentrates, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's mental health burden compares with the rest of ID before drawing conclusions from a single score. ID 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 Mental Health Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose active HRSA mental-health HPSA score is closest to Bear Lake County's 17.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Bear Lake County have?
Bear Lake County, ID has 9 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 3 in primary care, 3 in mental health, and 3 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Bear Lake County a Medically Underserved Area?
Bear Lake 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 Bear Lake County's HPSA score of 17.0 mean?
17.0 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 Bear Lake County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Bear Lake 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 Bear Lake County's designations unlock?
Bear Lake County's 9 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 Bear Lake County compare to other counties in ID?
Bear Lake County has 9 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 17.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in ID on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Bear Lake County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Next read: The Mental-Health Provider Shortage · ID state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 16007. 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.