MO · Healthcare shortage profile
Franklin County, MO
Home to 104,682 residents, with 6 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 6
- Population
- 104,682
- Peak shortage score
- 16.0
- MUA Index
- -
Mid-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Franklin 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
- Primary-care shortages
- 16
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 46%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Designated volume without a high-priority score
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Franklin County carries 6 active designations, above 54% of real US counties. None of those scores clear HRSA's high-priority line of 17 on this release, so the page leads with severity reading rather than a national distribution chart.
State peer position. Franklin County falls in the lower half of MO counties by active-designation volume, at rank 58 of 115. 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: 29071. Population: 104,682.
Below high-priority line
Franklin County is designated, but no active score clears 17
6 active designations sit on this FIPS (2 primary care, 2 mental health, 2 dental), and the peak severity is 16.0. That is a formal shortage footprint without HRSA's high-priority (≥17) tier, so NHSC placement geography is usually weaker here than on counties whose lead score clears the line.
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers Franklin County in the current HRSA release, federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 6 active (designated) HPSAs in Franklin County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Mercy Mcauley Clinic | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Mercy Mcauley Clinic | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Mercy Mcauley Clinic | dental | 15.0 |
| Mhca - 16 St. Charles Service Area | mental_health | 10.0 |
| Franklin County | primary_care | 8.0 |
| Franklin County | dental | 7.0 |
Moderate-burden reading for Franklin County
Franklin County's shortage runs equally deep in primary care and mental health: both scored 16.0 by HRSA, still short of the 17-point priority line, though the designation itself is formal. Dental care reads 15.0 of 26. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers Franklin County, so federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone.
Franklin 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.
Franklin County falls in the lower half of MO counties by active-designation volume, at rank 58 of 115. For moderate counties, the useful move is usually a state peer check plus the score cards above, not a national superlative claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Franklin County have?
Franklin County, MO has 6 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 2 in primary care, 2 in mental health, and 2 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Franklin County a Medically Underserved Area?
Franklin 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 Franklin County's HPSA score of 16.0 mean?
16.0 in primary care and mental health falls under 17, so the shortage is formally designated but outside HRSA's high-priority tier.
What healthcare providers are needed in Franklin County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Franklin 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 Primary-Care Shortage · MO state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 29071. 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.
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 counts active HPSA rows for FIPS 29071 (Franklin County, MO) from the current HRSA release and places that total among all real US counties. Designations describe federal shortage criteria, not appointment availability or care quality for any person. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, review the public data changelog, or report a data issue for this page. Data current as of 2026-08-03.