NM · Healthcare shortage profile
Bernalillo County, NM
Home to 676,444 residents, with 33 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 33
- Population
- 676,444
- Peak shortage score
- 26.0
- MUA Index
- 58.5
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Bernalillo County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 33 active HPSA designations, more than 98% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 33
- Active HPSA designations
- 11
- 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, Bernalillo County carries 33 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. Bernalillo County sits among the top three county rank positions in NM, at rank 2 of 32. 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: 35001. Population: 676,444.
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 33 active (designated) HPSAs in Bernalillo County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque Health Care For Homeless | dental | 26.0 |
| First Nations Community Health Source Inc | dental | 25.0 |
| First Nations Community Health Source Inc | primary_care | 22.0 |
| Albuquerque Health Care For Homeless | primary_care | 22.0 |
| First Choice Community Health Care | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Canoncito Health Center | dental | 21.0 |
| First Choice Community Health Care | dental | 21.0 |
| Canoncito Health Center | primary_care | 20.0 |
| Albuquerque Health Care For Homeless | mental_health | 20.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource | dental | 20.0 |
| Albuquerque Indian Dental Clinic | dental | 20.0 |
| Isleta Health Center | dental | 20.0 |
| Albuquerque Indian Health Center | dental | 20.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Isleta Health Center | primary_care | 19.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource - Central | primary_care | 19.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource - Truman | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Albuquerque Indian Dental Clinic | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Albuquerque Indian Health Center | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Canoncito Health Center | mental_health | 19.0 |
| First Choice Community Health Care | mental_health | 19.0 |
| ME - Bernalillo County MH | mental_health | 19.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource - Central | dental | 19.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource - Truman | dental | 19.0 |
| LI - Bernalillo County | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Isleta Health Center | mental_health | 18.0 |
| First Nations Community Health Source Inc | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Albuquerque Indian Health Center | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Albuquerque Indian Dental Clinic | mental_health | 18.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource | mental_health | 18.0 |
| LI - Bernalillo County | dental | 17.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource - Central | mental_health | 16.0 |
| First Nations Community Healthsource - Truman | mental_health | 16.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Bernalillo County
Dental care carries Bernalillo 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 22.0 of 25; Mental health reads 20.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 58.5, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Bernalillo County above 98% of real US counties (33 active designations: 11 primary care, 11 mental health, 11 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.
Bernalillo County sits among the top three county rank positions in NM, at rank 2 of 32. 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.
Bernalillo 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
11 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
11 designations
- Dental
Dental
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 Bernalillo County, NM · 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
Bernalillo County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Bernalillo County's 33 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 NM before you draw conclusions from a single score. NM 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 Bernalillo County's 26.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bernalillo County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Bernalillo County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 58.5. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Bernalillo County have?
Bernalillo County, NM has 33 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 11 in primary care, 11 in mental health, and 11 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Bernalillo 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 Bernalillo County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Bernalillo 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 Bernalillo County's designations unlock?
Bernalillo County's 33 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 Bernalillo County compare to other counties in NM?
Bernalillo County has 33 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 26.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in NM on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Bernalillo County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more NM shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 35001. 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.