HRSA designation data Public-data reference Medically Underserved Area

LA · Healthcare shortage profile

St. Landry County, LA

Home to 82,540 residents, with 24 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
24
Population
82,540
Peak shortage score
24.0
MUA Index
40.9

The verdict

St. Landry County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 24 active HPSA designations, more than 96% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.

24
Active HPSA designations
8
Primary-care shortages
24
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 4%
US counties by volume

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 22097. Population: 82,540.

St. Landry County, LA (population 82,540) has 8 primary care, 8 mental health, and 8 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 40.9. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.

8
Primary Care HPSAs
8
Mental Health HPSAs
8
Dental HPSAs

HPSA Scores

Primary Care 17.0
Mental Health 24.0
Dental 24.0

Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 40.9

St. Landry County vs. every US county

Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally

24 Top 4% higher than 96% of 2,991 US counties

0–20: 2,828 US counties (95%). Below this entry. 20–40: 124 US counties (4%). This entry sits in this band. 40–60: 27 US counties (1%). Above this entry. 60–80: 6 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 80–100: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 100–120: 2 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 120–140: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 140–160: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 160–180: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 180–200: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 200–220: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 220–240: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 240–260: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 260–280: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0 280 every US county with a designation, bucketed by value

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 24 active (designated) HPSAs in St. Landry County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER, INC. mental_health 24.0
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER, INC. dental 24.0
SAVOY FAMILY CARE mental_health 21.0
HEINEN MEDICAL EUNICE mental_health 20.0
HEINEN MEDICAL EUNICE dental 20.0
SAVOY FAMILY CARE dental 20.0
ACADIANA PRACTITIONERS, LLC mental_health 19.0
PALMETTO FAMILY CLINIC mental_health 19.0
ACADIANA PRACTITIONERS OPELOUSAS mental_health 19.0
ACADIAN PHYSICIAN SPECIALTIES mental_health 19.0
ACADIANA PRACTITIONERS, LLC dental 19.0
PALMETTO FAMILY CLINIC dental 19.0
ACADIANA PRACTITIONERS OPELOUSAS dental 19.0
ACADIAN PHYSICIAN SPECIALTIES dental 19.0
PALMETTO FAMILY CLINIC primary_care 17.0
St. Landry Parish mental_health 17.0
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER, INC. primary_care 16.0
ACADIANA PRACTITIONERS OPELOUSAS primary_care 14.0
ACADIANA PRACTITIONERS, LLC primary_care 14.0
HEINEN MEDICAL EUNICE primary_care 14.0
ACADIAN PHYSICIAN SPECIALTIES primary_care 14.0
St. Landry Parish dental 14.0
LI - St. Landry Parish primary_care 13.0
SAVOY FAMILY CARE primary_care 12.0

What the HRSA Data Shows for St. Landry County

St. Landry County, LA - population 82,540 carries 24 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 8 in primary care, 8 in mental health, and 8 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 40.9 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).

The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 24.0, 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 17.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 24.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 24.0 (0–26 scale).

HRSA lists 24 active (designated) HPSA records tied to St. Landry County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.

St. Landry County designations by care type

Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.

designations
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs As of 2026

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for St. Landry County, LA · 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 St. Landry County's data

St. Landry County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.

  • St. Landry County's 24 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 LA before you draw conclusions from a single score. LA 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many healthcare shortage areas does St. Landry County have?

St. Landry County, LA has 24 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 8 in primary care, 8 in mental health, and 8 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

Is St. Landry County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, St. Landry County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 40.9. 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 St. Landry County?

Based on HRSA shortage designations, St. Landry 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 St. Landry County compare to other counties in LA?

St. Landry County has 24 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 24.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in LA on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where St. Landry County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 22097. 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.

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.