MD · Healthcare shortage profile
Baltimore City County, MD
Home to 585,708 residents, with 38 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 38
- Population
- 585,708
- Peak shortage score
- 26.0
- MUA Index
- 38.6
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Baltimore City County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 38 active HPSA designations, more than 98% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 38
- Active HPSA designations
- 8
- Dental shortages
- 26
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 2%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Baltimore City County carries 38 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. Baltimore City County is tied for the highest active-designation count among 23 real counties in MD. 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: 24510. Population: 585,708.
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 38 active (designated) HPSAs in Baltimore City County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Total Health Care, Inc. | dental | 26.0 |
| Health Care For Homeless Inc | dental | 25.0 |
| Baltimore Medical System, Inc. | dental | 25.0 |
| Chase Brexton Health Services Inc. | dental | 25.0 |
| Park West Health Systems, Incorporated | dental | 25.0 |
| Health Care For Homeless Inc | primary_care | 24.0 |
| Total Health Care, Inc. | primary_care | 23.0 |
| Park West Health Systems, Incorporated | primary_care | 23.0 |
| Baltimore Medical System, Inc. | primary_care | 23.0 |
| LI - Southern Baltimore City | primary_care | 22.0 |
| Chase Brexton Health Services Inc. | primary_care | 22.0 |
| LI - North Central Baltimore City | primary_care | 22.0 |
| Baltimore Medical System, Inc. | mental_health | 22.0 |
| Total Health Care, Inc. | mental_health | 22.0 |
| Park West Health Systems, Incorporated | mental_health | 22.0 |
| LI - East & Southeast Baltimore City | primary_care | 21.0 |
| LI - Pimlico/Park Heights/Falstaff | primary_care | 21.0 |
| LI - Greater Charles Village/Lower Guilford | primary_care | 21.0 |
| LI - East Central Baltimore City | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Chase Brexton Health Services Inc. | mental_health | 21.0 |
| ME-West Baltimore City | primary_care | 19.0 |
| LI - East Baltimore City | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Health Care For Homeless Inc | mental_health | 19.0 |
| LI - Southeastern Baltimore City | mental_health | 19.0 |
| LI - West Central Baltimore City | dental | 19.0 |
| LI - Northwest Baltimore City | mental_health | 18.0 |
| LI - West Central Baltimore City | mental_health | 18.0 |
| HN - West Central Baltimore City | primary_care | 17.0 |
| ME-Harford SA | primary_care | 17.0 |
| HN - West Baltimore City | primary_care | 17.0 |
| LI - South Baltimore City | mental_health | 17.0 |
| LI - East Baltimore City | dental | 17.0 |
| ME-Glen-Falstaff | primary_care | 16.0 |
| North Baltimore | primary_care | 14.0 |
| ME - Southeast Baltimore City | dental | 11.0 |
| ME-Southern Park Heights | primary_care | 9.0 |
| CF-Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center | primary_care | 6.0 |
| CF-Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center | mental_health | 6.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Baltimore City County
Dental care carries Baltimore City County's deepest shortage reading, 26.0 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 24.0 of 25; Mental health reads 22.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 38.6, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Baltimore City County above 98% of real US counties (38 active designations: 19 primary care, 11 mental health, 8 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 26.0. 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.
Baltimore City County is tied for the highest active-designation count among 23 real counties in MD. 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.
Baltimore City 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
19 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
11 designations
- Dental
Dental
8 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 Baltimore City County, MD · 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
Baltimore City County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Baltimore City County's 38 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 MD before you draw conclusions from a single score. MD 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 Baltimore City County's 26.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baltimore City County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Baltimore City County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 38.6. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Baltimore City County have?
Baltimore City County, MD has 38 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 19 in primary care, 11 in mental health, and 8 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Baltimore City County's HPSA score of 26.0 mean?
26.0 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 Baltimore City County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Baltimore City 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 Baltimore City County's designations unlock?
Baltimore City County's 38 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 Baltimore City County compare to other counties in MD?
Baltimore City County has 38 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 26.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in MD on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Baltimore City County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more MD shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 24510. 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.