ME · Healthcare shortage profile
Penobscot County, ME
Home to 152,199 residents, with 39 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 39
- Population
- 152,199
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 50.4
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Penobscot County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 39 active HPSA designations, more than 98% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 39
- Active HPSA designations
- 14
- Dental shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 2%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Penobscot County carries 39 active designations, above 98% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Penobscot County sits among the top three county rank positions in ME, at rank 2 of 16. 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: 23019. Population: 152,199.
Medically Underserved Area
Peak severity scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 39 active (designated) HPSAs in Penobscot County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sebasticook Family Doctors | dental | 25.0 |
| Sebasticook Family Doctors | mental_health | 23.0 |
| Penobscot Indian Nat Hlth Center | dental | 23.0 |
| Penobscot Community Health Center | mental_health | 22.0 |
| Penobscot Community Health Center | dental | 21.0 |
| Penobscot Indian Nat Hlth Center | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Penobscot Valley Primary Care | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Katahdin Valley Health Center | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Northern Light Primary Care Corinth | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Houlton | mental_health | 18.0 |
| LI-Dover Foxcroft SA | dental | 18.0 |
| Millinocket Primary Care Rhc | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Millinocket SA | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Katahdin Valley Health Center | dental | 17.0 |
| Penobscot Valley Primary Care | dental | 17.0 |
| Millinocket Primary Care Rhc | dental | 17.0 |
| Millinocket Primary Care Rhc | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Health Access Network | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Northern Light Health Center - Newport Plaza | mental_health | 16.0 |
| LI-Lincoln SA | dental | 16.0 |
| LI-Old Town SA | dental | 16.0 |
| LI-Newport | dental | 16.0 |
| LI-Old Town SA | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Millinocket SA | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Penobscot Indian Nat Hlth Center | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Northern Light Health Center - Newport Plaza | dental | 15.0 |
| Northern Light Primary Care Corinth | dental | 15.0 |
| LI-Newport SA | primary_care | 14.0 |
| Penobscot Valley Primary Care | primary_care | 12.0 |
| Health Access Network | dental | 12.0 |
| Lincoln SA | primary_care | 11.0 |
| Dover Foxcroft SA | primary_care | 11.0 |
| Sebasticook Family Doctors | primary_care | 11.0 |
| LI-Millinocket | dental | 11.0 |
| Northern Light Health Center - Newport Plaza | primary_care | 10.0 |
| Penobscot Community Health Center | primary_care | 8.0 |
| Katahdin Valley Health Center | primary_care | 8.0 |
| Northern Light Primary Care Corinth | primary_care | 7.0 |
| Health Access Network | primary_care | 6.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Penobscot County
Dental care carries Penobscot 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 19.0 of 25; Mental health reads 23.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 50.4, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Penobscot County above 98% of real US counties (39 active designations: 14 primary care, 11 mental health, 14 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 25.0. The table on this page lists the highest-severity records first so a reader can see which named facilities, geographies, or population groups drive that burden without treating the county total as a personal appointment forecast.
Penobscot County sits among the top three county rank positions in ME, at rank 2 of 16. Heavy-burden counties are where NHSC placement, Community Health Center grant geography, and related federal instruments concentrate; eligibility still follows the designated area and provider type, not the county boundary alone.
Penobscot 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
14 designations
- Dental
Dental
14 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
11 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 Penobscot County, ME · 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 a heavy-burden county
Penobscot County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Penobscot County's 39 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 ME before you draw conclusions from a single score. ME 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.
Counties With a Similar Dental Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose active HRSA dental HPSA score is closest to Penobscot County's 25.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penobscot County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Penobscot County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 50.4. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Penobscot County have?
Penobscot County, ME has 39 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 14 in primary care, 11 in mental health, and 14 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Penobscot 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 Penobscot County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Penobscot 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.
Which federal programs do Penobscot County's designations unlock?
Penobscot County's 39 active designations open NHSC placement, Community Health Center grants, the Medicare bonus and J-1 waivers, but eligibility follows the designated area and provider type, not the county line.
How does Penobscot County compare to other counties in ME?
Penobscot County has 39 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in ME on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Penobscot County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more ME shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 23019. 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.