Medically Underserved Area Two high-priority disciplines

OR · Healthcare shortage profile

Morrow County, OR

Home to 12,186 residents, with 12 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
12
Population
12,186
Peak shortage score
18.0
MUA Index
56.0

Heavy-burden verdict

According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Morrow County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 12 active HPSA designations, more than 85% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.

12
Active HPSA designations
4
Primary-care shortages
18
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 15%
US counties by volume

Morrow County vs. every real US county

Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none

12 Top 15% higher than 85% of 3,289 real US counties

0–20: 3,115 real US counties (95%). This entry sits in this band. 20–40: 128 real US counties (4%). Above this entry. 40–60: 32 real US counties (1%). Above this entry. 60–80: 7 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 80–100: 2 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 100–120: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 120–140: 2 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 140–160: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 160–180: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 180–200: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 200–220: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 220–240: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 240–260: 0 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. 260–280: 1 real US counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0 280 every real US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more real 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

State peer position. Morrow County falls in the upper half of OR counties by active-designation volume, at rank 12 of 36. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 41049. Population: 12,186.

4
Primary Care HPSAs
4
Mental Health HPSAs

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 56.0

Peak severity scores

Primary Care 18.0
Mental Health 18.0
Dental 14.0

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

Highest-severity HPSA designations

All 12 active (designated) HPSAs in Morrow County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
Columbia River Health primary_care 18.0
Irrigon Medical Clinic mental_health 18.0
East Columbia mental_health 17.0
Pioneer Memorial Clinic primary_care 15.0
Irrigon Medical Clinic primary_care 15.0
Pioneer Memorial Clinic mental_health 15.0
Columbia River Health mental_health 15.0
Irrigon Medical Clinic dental 14.0
Morrow County primary_care 13.0
Columbia River Health dental 12.0
Pioneer Memorial Clinic dental 10.0
LI-Morrow County dental 8.0

Heavy-burden reading for Morrow County

Morrow County's shortage runs equally deep in primary care and mental health: both scored 18.0 by HRSA, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Dental care reads 14.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 56.0, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.

Volume places Morrow County above 85% of real US counties (12 active designations: 4 primary care, 4 mental health, 4 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 18.0. 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.

Morrow County falls in the upper half of OR counties by active-designation volume, at rank 12 of 36. 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.

Morrow County designations by care type

Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category (high-priority disciplines emphasized).

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 Morrow County, OR · 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

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

  • Morrow 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 OR before you draw conclusions from a single score. OR 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 Primary Care Shortage Score

Other U.S. counties whose active HRSA primary-care HPSA score is closest to Morrow County's 18.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Morrow County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Morrow County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 56.0. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.

How many healthcare shortage areas does Morrow County have?

Morrow County, OR has 12 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 4 in primary care, 4 in mental health, and 4 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

What does Morrow County's HPSA score of 18.0 mean?

18.0 in primary care and mental health 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 Morrow County?

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

Morrow County's 12 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 Morrow County compare to other counties in OR?

Morrow County has 12 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 18.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in OR on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Morrow County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 41049. 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 41049 (Morrow County, OR) 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.