KY · Healthcare shortage profile
Boyd County, KY
Home to 48,261 residents, with 6 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 6
- Population
- 48,261
- Peak shortage score
- 21.0
- MUA Index
- 45.7
Mid-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Boyd 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
- Mental-health shortages
- 21
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 46%
- US counties by volume
Boyd County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
6 Top 46% higher than 54% 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. Boyd County falls in the upper half of KY counties by active-designation volume, at rank 32 of 120. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 21019. Population: 48,261.
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 Boyd County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Fci - Ashland | mental_health | 21.0 |
| LI-Boyd County | primary_care | 18.0 |
| LI-Boyd County | mental_health | 17.0 |
| LI - Boyd County | dental | 17.0 |
| Fci - Ashland | primary_care | 12.0 |
| Fci - Ashland | dental | 12.0 |
Moderate-burden reading for Boyd County
Boyd 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 18.0 of 25; Dental care reads 17.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 45.7, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Boyd 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.
Boyd County falls in the upper half of KY counties by active-designation volume, at rank 32 of 120. For moderate counties, the useful move is usually a state peer check plus the score cards above, not a national superlative claim.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Boyd County, KY · 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 Boyd County's designations
Boyd County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Boyd 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 KY before you draw conclusions from a single score. KY 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 mental-health score peers
Closest U.S. counties on active mental-health HPSA score to Boyd County's 21.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boyd County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Boyd County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 45.7. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Boyd County have?
Boyd County, KY 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 Boyd 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 Boyd County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Boyd 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: The Mental-Health Provider Shortage · KY state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 21019. 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.