NC · Healthcare shortage profile
Buncombe County, NC
Home to 269,452 residents, with 12 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 12
- Population
- 269,452
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 50.8
The verdict
Buncombe County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 12 active HPSA designations, more than 87% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 12
- Active HPSA designations
- 4
- Primary-care shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 13%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 37021. Population: 269,452.
Buncombe County, NC (population 269,452) has 4 primary care, 4 mental health, and 4 dental Health Professional Shortage Area designations active according to HRSA. The county is also designated a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) with an MUA Index of 50.8. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.
HPSA Scores
Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Medically Underserved Area
Buncombe County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
12 Top 13% higher than 87% of 2,991 US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs · 2026
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 12 active (designated) HPSAs in Buncombe County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS | dental | 25.0 |
| Western North Carolina Community Health Services, Inc | dental | 23.0 |
| Mountain Area Health Education Center, INC. | dental | 23.0 |
| Mountain Area Health Education Center, INC. | mental_health | 20.0 |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS | mental_health | 20.0 |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS | primary_care | 19.0 |
| Western North Carolina Community Health Services, Inc | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Mountain Area Health Education Center, INC. | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Western North Carolina Community Health Services, Inc | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Craggy Correctional Center | mental_health | 12.0 |
| LI-Buncombe Asheville | dental | 9.0 |
| Craggy Correctional Institution | primary_care | 6.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Buncombe County
Buncombe County, NC - population 269,452 carries 12 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 4 in primary care, 4 in mental health, and 4 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 50.8 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 25.0, which crosses the 17-point threshold HRSA uses to flag high-priority shortage areas eligible for National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary-care scoring reached 19.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 20.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 25.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 12 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Buncombe County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Buncombe County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
4 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
4 designations
- Dental
Dental
4 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 Buncombe County, NC · 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.
What to do with Buncombe County's data
Buncombe County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Buncombe County's 12 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 NC before you draw conclusions from a single score. NC 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 score estimator
HPSA scores describe structural access to care, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; designations are reviewed by HRSA each quarter.
Counties With a Similar Primary Care Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose HRSA primary-care HPSA score is closest to Buncombe County's 19.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Buncombe County have?
Buncombe County, NC has 12 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 4 in primary care, 4 in mental health, and 4 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Buncombe County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Buncombe County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 50.8. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
What does an HPSA score mean?
HPSA scores range from 0 to 25 for primary care and mental health (0 to 26 for dental). Higher scores indicate greater shortage severity. Areas with scores of 17 or above are considered high-priority shortage areas eligible for National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement.
What healthcare providers are needed in Buncombe County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Buncombe 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.
How are HPSA designations used by federal programs?
HPSA designations determine eligibility for over 30 federal programs, including National Health Service Corps placements, Community Health Center grants, Medicare bonus payments (10% for physicians in HPSAs), J-1 visa waiver programs for international medical graduates, and Rural Health Clinic certification. These programs channel billions of dollars annually to underserved communities.
How does Buncombe County compare to other counties in NC?
Buncombe County has 12 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in NC on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Buncombe County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more NC shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 37021. 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 lists every HPSA and MUA designation on record for the county. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.