IA · Healthcare shortage profile
Black Hawk County, IA
Home to 131,144 residents, with 6 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 6
- Population
- 131,144
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 52.2
Mid-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Black Hawk County holds a moderate federal shortage burden - 6 active HPSA designations, more than 54% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 6
- Active HPSA designations
- 2
- Dental shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 46%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Black Hawk County carries 6 active designations, above 54% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Black Hawk County falls in the upper half of IA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 26 of 99. 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: 19013. Population: 131,144.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 6 active (designated) HPSAs in Black Hawk County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc. | dental | 25.0 |
| Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc. | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc. | primary_care | 17.0 |
| LI-Black Hawk County | mental_health | 17.0 |
| LI-Black Hawk County | dental | 15.0 |
| LI - Black Hawk County | primary_care | 12.0 |
Moderate-burden reading for Black Hawk County
Dental care carries Black Hawk 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 17.0 of 25; Mental health reads 19.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 52.2, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Black Hawk County sits in the middle of the national designation-volume distribution (above 54% of counties) with 6 active records. That is enough for a formal shortage footprint without landing in the heaviest US tier. Compare the three discipline counts (2/2/2) before assuming every care category is equally short.
Black Hawk County falls in the upper half of IA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 26 of 99. For moderate counties, the useful move is usually a state peer check plus the score cards above, not a national superlative claim.
Black Hawk 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
2 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
2 designations
- Dental
Dental
2 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 Black Hawk County, IA · 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 Black Hawk County's designations
Black Hawk County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Black Hawk County's 6 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 IA before you draw conclusions from a single score. IA 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.
Nearby dental score peers
Closest U.S. counties on active dental HPSA score to Black Hawk County's 25.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Hawk County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Black Hawk County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 52.2. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Black Hawk County have?
Black Hawk County, IA has 6 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 2 in primary care, 2 in mental health, and 2 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Black Hawk 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.
Next read: Dental Shortage in America · IA state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 19013. 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.