KY · Healthcare shortage profile
Oldham County, KY
Home to 67,607 residents, with 1 active HRSA shortage designation.
- Active HPSAs
- 1
- Population
- 67,607
- Peak shortage score
- 18.0
- MUA Index
- —
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 21185. Population: 67,607.
Oldham County, KY (population 67,607) has 1 primary care, 0 mental health, and 0 dental Health Professional Shortage Area designation active according to HRSA. 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
This county does not have an active MUA designation.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 1 active (designated) HPSAs in Oldham County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky State Reformatory | primary_care | 6.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Oldham County
Oldham County, KY — population 67,607 carries 1 active Health Professional Shortage Area designation in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 1 in primary care, 0 in mental health, and 0 in dental. It does not currently hold a Medically Underserved Area designation, though individual HPSAs can still be present at the service-area level. These three HPSA categories are evaluated independently by HRSA, so a county can show heavy pressure on one axis — for example mental-health access — while remaining closer to the provider ratio threshold for primary care.
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 18.0, 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 12.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 18.0 (0–25 scale). HPSA scores weight the provider-to-population ratio, poverty rate, travel time to the nearest source of care, and — for dental — water fluoridation status. They are recalculated as HRSA updates its quarterly designation cycle.
HRSA lists 1 active (designated) HPSA record tied to Oldham County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe. This designation data is the basis for more than thirty federal programs — loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps, Medicare bonus payments, Community Health Center grants, and J-1 visa waivers — which together channel billions of dollars annually to recruit providers into HPSAs. These figures describe structural access to care only; they are not a substitute for medical advice, and patients searching for a specific appointment should contact a provider directly or consult their insurance network.
Oldham County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
1 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 Oldham County, KY · 2024 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Oldham County have?
Oldham County, KY has 1 Health Professional Shortage Area designation: 1 in primary care, 0 in mental health, and 0 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Oldham County a Medically Underserved Area?
Oldham 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 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 Oldham County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Oldham County needs additional providers in primary care (family physicians, internists, pediatricians). 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 Oldham County compare to other counties in KY?
Oldham County has 1 total HPSA designation with a peak shortage score of 18.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in KY on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Oldham County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more KY shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 21185. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
Related
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.