PA · Healthcare shortage profile
Susquehanna County, PA
Home to 38,434 residents, with 17 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 17
- Population
- 38,434
- Peak shortage score
- 17.0
- MUA Index
- 59.0
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Susquehanna County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 17 active HPSA designations, more than 93% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 17
- Active HPSA designations
- 6
- Primary-care shortages
- 17
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 7%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Susquehanna County carries 17 active designations, above 93% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Susquehanna County falls in the upper quarter of PA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 4 of 67. 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: 42115. Population: 38,434.
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 17 active (designated) HPSAs in Susquehanna County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes-Kasson Hospital | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes-Kasson Hospital | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Barnes-Kasson County Hospital | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes Kasson Hospital | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes-Kasson Hospital | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes-Kasson Hospital | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes Kasson Hospital | dental | 17.0 |
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes-Kasson Hospital | dental | 17.0 |
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes-Kasson Hospital | dental | 17.0 |
| Barnes-Kasson County Hospital | dental | 17.0 |
| B-K Health Center Inc. | dental | 16.0 |
| LI- Susquehanna | dental | 16.0 |
| Family Health Clinic OF Barnes Kasson Hospital | mental_health | 15.0 |
| LI-Susquehanna County | primary_care | 13.0 |
| B-K Health Center Inc. | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Barnes-Kasson County Hospital | mental_health | 13.0 |
| B-K Health Center Inc. | mental_health | 11.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Susquehanna County
Susquehanna County's shortage runs equally deep in primary care and mental health and dental care: both scored 17.0 by HRSA, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 59.0, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Susquehanna County above 93% of real US counties (17 active designations: 6 primary care, 5 mental health, 6 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 17.0. 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.
Susquehanna County falls in the upper quarter of PA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 4 of 67. 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.
Susquehanna 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
6 designations
- Dental
Dental
6 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
5 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 Susquehanna County, PA · 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
Susquehanna County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Susquehanna County's 17 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 PA before you draw conclusions from a single score. PA 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 Susquehanna County's 17.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Susquehanna County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Susquehanna County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 59.0. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Susquehanna County have?
Susquehanna County, PA has 17 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 6 in primary care, 5 in mental health, and 6 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Susquehanna County's HPSA score of 17.0 mean?
17.0 in primary care and mental health and 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 Susquehanna County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Susquehanna 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 Susquehanna County's designations unlock?
Susquehanna County's 17 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 Susquehanna County compare to other counties in PA?
Susquehanna County has 17 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 17.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in PA on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Susquehanna County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more PA shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 42115. 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.