SC · Healthcare shortage profile
Cherokee County, SC
Home to 56,216 residents, with 9 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 9
- Population
- 56,216
- Peak shortage score
- 18.0
- MUA Index
- 60.8
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Cherokee County carries a heavier shortage burden than most US counties - 9 active HPSA designations, more than 75% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 9
- Active HPSA designations
- 3
- Primary-care shortages
- 18
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 25%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Cherokee County carries 9 active designations, above 75% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. Cherokee County falls in the upper quarter of SC counties by active-designation volume, at rank 6 of 46. 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: 45021. Population: 56,216.
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 9 active (designated) HPSAs in Cherokee County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| LI - Cherokee County | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Cherokee, Spartanburg & Union Counties Mhca | mental_health | 18.0 |
| LI - Cherokee County | dental | 18.0 |
| Carolina Pediatric Associates | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Carolina Pediatric Associates | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Carolina Pediatric Associates | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Carolina Pediatric Associates | dental | 15.0 |
| Carolina Pediatric Associates | dental | 15.0 |
| Carolina Pediatric Associates | primary_care | 14.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Cherokee County
Cherokee County's shortage runs equally deep in primary care and mental health and dental care: both scored 18.0 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 60.8, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Cherokee County above 75% of real US counties (9 active designations: 3 primary care, 3 mental health, 3 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.
Cherokee County falls in the upper quarter of SC counties by active-designation volume, at rank 6 of 46. 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.
Cherokee 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
3 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
3 designations
- Dental
Dental
3 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 Cherokee County, SC · 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
Cherokee County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Cherokee 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 SC before you draw conclusions from a single score. SC 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 Cherokee County's 18.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cherokee County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Cherokee County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 60.8. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Cherokee County have?
Cherokee County, SC has 9 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 3 in primary care, 3 in mental health, and 3 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Cherokee County's HPSA score of 18.0 mean?
18.0 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 Cherokee County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Cherokee 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 Cherokee County's designations unlock?
Cherokee County's 9 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 Cherokee County compare to other counties in SC?
Cherokee County has 9 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 18.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in SC on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Cherokee County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more SC shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 45021. 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.