HRSA designation data Public-data reference Medically Underserved Area

OH · Healthcare shortage profile

Belmont County, OH

Home to 66,497 residents, with 9 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
9
Population
66,497
Peak shortage score
22.0
MUA Index
54.4

The verdict

Belmont County carries a heavier shortage burden than most US counties - 9 active HPSA designations, more than 78% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.

9
Active HPSA designations
3
Primary-care shortages
22
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 22%
US counties by volume

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 39013. Population: 66,497.

Belmont County, OH (population 66,497) has 3 primary care, 3 mental health, and 3 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 54.4. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.

3
Primary Care HPSAs
3
Mental Health HPSAs
3
Dental HPSAs

HPSA Scores

Primary Care 16.0
Mental Health 22.0
Dental 22.0

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

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 54.4

Belmont County vs. every US county

Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally

9 Top 22% higher than 78% of 2,991 US counties

0–20: 2,828 US counties (95%). This entry sits in this band. 20–40: 124 US counties (4%). Above this entry. 40–60: 27 US counties (1%). Above this entry. 60–80: 6 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 80–100: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 100–120: 2 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 120–140: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 140–160: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 160–180: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 180–200: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 200–220: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 220–240: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 240–260: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 260–280: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0 280 every US county with a designation, bucketed by value

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

Name Type Score
OHIO HILLS HEALTH SERVICES mental_health 22.0
OHIO HILLS HEALTH SERVICES dental 22.0
LI-MHCA 8 mental_health 17.0
LI-Belmont County primary_care 16.0
OHIO HILLS HEALTH SERVICES primary_care 15.0
LI - Belmont County dental 13.0
Belmont Correctional Institution mental_health 12.0
Belmont Correctional Institution primary_care 6.0
Belmont Correctional Institution dental 3.0

What the HRSA Data Shows for Belmont County

Belmont County, OH - population 66,497 carries 9 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 3 in primary care, 3 in mental health, and 3 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 54.4 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).

The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 22.0, 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 16.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 22.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 22.0 (0–26 scale).

HRSA lists 9 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Belmont County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.

Belmont County designations by care type

Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.

designations
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs As of 2026

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Belmont County, OH · 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 Belmont County's data

Belmont County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.

  • Belmont County's 9 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 OH before you draw conclusions from a single score. OH 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many healthcare shortage areas does Belmont County have?

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

Is Belmont County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Belmont County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 54.4. 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 Belmont County?

Based on HRSA shortage designations, Belmont 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 Belmont County compare to other counties in OH?

Belmont County has 9 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 22.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in OH on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Belmont County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 39013. 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 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.