IA · Healthcare shortage profile
Polk County, IA
Home to 492,401 residents, with 9 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 9
- Population
- 492,401
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 60.9
The verdict
Polk County carries a heavier shortage burden than most US counties - 9 active HPSA designations, more than 78% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 9
- Active HPSA designations
- 3
- Primary-care shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 22%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 19153. Population: 492,401.
Polk County, IA (population 492,401) has 3 primary care, 3 mental health, and 3 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 60.9. 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
Polk County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
9 Top 22% higher than 78% 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 9 active (designated) HPSAs in Polk County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| PROTEUS INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INC | dental | 21.0 |
| PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INC | mental_health | 20.0 |
| PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INC | primary_care | 19.0 |
| PROTEUS INC. | primary_care | 19.0 |
| LI Des Moines Area | mental_health | 17.0 |
| PROTEUS INC. | mental_health | 16.0 |
| LI Des Moines Area | primary_care | 14.0 |
| LI - Des Moines Area | dental | 9.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Polk County
Polk County, IA - population 492,401 carries 9 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 3 in primary care, 3 in mental health, and 3 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 60.9 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 19.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 20.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 25.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 9 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Polk County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Polk County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
3 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
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 Polk 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.
What to do with Polk County's data
Polk County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Polk County's 9 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 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 Polk County's 19.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Polk County have?
Polk County, IA 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 Polk County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Polk County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 60.9. 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 Polk County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Polk 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 Polk County compare to other counties in IA?
Polk County has 9 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in IA on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Polk County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more IA shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 19153. 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.