Medically Underserved Area Designated · below priority line

MO · Healthcare shortage profile

Miller County, MO

Home to 24,722 residents, with 9 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
9
Population
24,722
Peak shortage score
16.0
MUA Index
56.5

Heavy-burden verdict

According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Miller County carries a heavier shortage burden than most US counties - 9 active HPSA designations, more than 75% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.

9
Active HPSA designations
3
Primary-care shortages
16
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 25%
US counties by volume

Corpus placement

Designated volume without a high-priority score

According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Miller County carries 9 active designations, above 75% 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. Miller County falls in the upper half of MO counties by active-designation volume, at rank 41 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: 29131. Population: 24,722.

Below high-priority line

Miller County is designated, but no active score clears 17

9 active designations sit on this FIPS (3 primary care, 3 mental health, 3 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.

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 56.5

Peak severity scores

Primary Care 16.0
Mental Health 16.0
Dental 16.0

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

Highest-severity HPSA designations

All 9 active (designated) HPSAs in Miller County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
Lake Regional - Eldon primary_care 16.0
Lake Regional Clinic - Iberia primary_care 16.0
LI-Miller County primary_care 16.0
Lake Regional - Eldon mental_health 16.0
Lake Regional Clinic - Iberia mental_health 16.0
LI - Mhca 11 Cole Catchment Area mental_health 16.0
LI-Camden/Miller Counties dental 16.0
Lake Regional - Eldon dental 15.0
Lake Regional Clinic - Iberia dental 15.0

Heavy-burden reading for Miller County

Miller County's shortage runs equally deep in primary care and mental health and dental care: both scored 16.0 by HRSA, still short of the 17-point priority line, though the designation itself is formal. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 56.5, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.

Volume places Miller County above 75% of real US counties (9 active designations: 3 primary care, 3 mental health, 3 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 16.0. 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.

Miller County falls in the upper half of MO counties by active-designation volume, at rank 41 of 115. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Miller County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Miller County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 56.5. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.

How many healthcare shortage areas does Miller County have?

Miller County, MO has 9 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 3 in primary care, 3 in mental health, and 3 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

What does Miller County's HPSA score of 16.0 mean?

16.0 in primary care and mental health and dental care falls under 17, so the shortage is formally designated but outside HRSA's high-priority tier.

What healthcare providers are needed in Miller County?

Based on HRSA shortage designations, Miller 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 Miller County's designations unlock?

Miller County's 9 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 Miller County compare to other counties in MO?

Miller County has 9 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 16.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in MO on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Miller County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Next read: The Primary-Care Shortage · MO state overview · NHSC loan repayment

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 29131. 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 counts active HPSA rows for FIPS 29131 (Miller 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.