IN · Healthcare shortage profile
Lake County, IN
Home to 498,700 residents, with 13 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 13
- Population
- 498,700
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 46.4
The verdict
Lake County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 13 active HPSA designations, more than 89% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 13
- Active HPSA designations
- 6
- Primary-care shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 11%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 18089. Population: 498,700.
Lake County, IN (population 498,700) has 6 primary care, 3 mental health, and 4 dental Health Professional Shortage Area designations active according to HRSA. The county is also designated a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) with an MUA Index of 46.4. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.
HPSA Scores
Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Medically Underserved Area
Lake County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
13 Top 11% higher than 89% of 2,991 US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more 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
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 13 active (designated) HPSAs in Lake County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| SOUTHLAKE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER INC | dental | 25.0 |
| SOUTHLAKE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER INC | primary_care | 19.0 |
| LI - Calumet Township / Gary | dental | 19.0 |
| SOUTHLAKE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER INC | mental_health | 18.0 |
| LI - East Chicago / Hammond | primary_care | 17.0 |
| 219 HEALTH NETWORK INC | primary_care | 16.0 |
| COMMUNITY HEALTHNET INC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| 219 HEALTH NETWORK INC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| COMMUNITY HEALTHNET INC | primary_care | 15.0 |
| 219 HEALTH NETWORK INC | dental | 15.0 |
| City of Gary | primary_care | 14.0 |
| Methodist Hospital Southlake Campus | primary_care | 14.0 |
| COMMUNITY HEALTHNET INC | dental | 11.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Lake County
Lake County, IN - population 498,700 carries 13 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 6 in primary care, 3 in mental health, and 4 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 46.4 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 25.0, which crosses the 17-point threshold HRSA uses to flag high-priority shortage areas eligible for National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary-care scoring reached 21.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 21.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 25.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 13 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Lake County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Lake County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
6 designations
- Dental
Dental
4 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
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 Lake County, IN · 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.
What to do with Lake County's data
Lake County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Lake County's 13 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 IN before you draw conclusions from a single score. IN 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 score estimator
HPSA scores describe structural access to care, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; designations are reviewed by HRSA each quarter.
Counties With a Similar Primary Care Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose HRSA primary-care HPSA score is closest to Lake County's 21.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Lake County have?
Lake County, IN has 13 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 6 in primary care, 3 in mental health, and 4 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Lake County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Lake County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 46.4. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
What does an HPSA score mean?
HPSA scores range from 0 to 25 for primary care and mental health (0 to 26 for dental). Higher scores indicate greater shortage severity. Areas with scores of 17 or above are considered high-priority shortage areas eligible for National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement.
What healthcare providers are needed in Lake County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, 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.
How are HPSA designations used by federal programs?
HPSA designations determine eligibility for over 30 federal programs, including National Health Service Corps placements, Community Health Center grants, Medicare bonus payments (10% for physicians in HPSAs), J-1 visa waiver programs for international medical graduates, and Rural Health Clinic certification. These programs channel billions of dollars annually to underserved communities.
How does Lake County compare to other counties in IN?
Lake County has 13 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in IN on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Lake County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more IN shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 18089. 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 lists every HPSA and MUA designation on record for the county. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.