SC · Healthcare shortage profile
Laurens County, SC
Home to 67,539 residents, with 6 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 6
- Population
- 67,539
- Peak shortage score
- 17.0
- MUA Index
- 60.6
Mid-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Laurens County holds a moderate federal shortage burden - 6 active HPSA designations, more than 54% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 6
- Active HPSA designations
- 2
- Primary-care shortages
- 17
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 46%
- US counties by volume
Laurens County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
6 Top 46% higher than 54% of 3,289 real US counties
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. Laurens County falls in the upper half of SC counties by active-designation volume, at rank 18 of 46. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 45059. Population: 67,539.
Single high-priority discipline
Laurens County's only high-priority (≥17) footprint is primary care
Current HRSA Data Warehouse rows attribute 2 active primary care designations to Laurens County , with a peak score of 17.0. Other care categories may still be designated here, but none of them clear HRSA's high-priority score line of 17 on the current release, NHSC and related instruments concentrate on the primary care records.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 6 active (designated) HPSAs in Laurens County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| LI-Laurens County | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Piedmont Pediatrics | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Piedmont Pediatrics | primary_care | 15.0 |
| Beckman SA | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Piedmont Pediatrics | dental | 13.0 |
| Laurens County | dental | 10.0 |
Moderate-burden reading for Laurens County
Primary care is where Laurens County is stretched thinnest: HRSA scores it 17.0 of 25, the county's highest severity reading and past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Mental health reads 16.0 of 25; Dental care reads 13.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 60.6, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Laurens County sits in the middle of the national designation-volume distribution (above 54% of counties) with 6 active records. That is enough for a formal shortage footprint without landing in the heaviest US tier. Compare the three discipline counts (2/2/2) before assuming every care category is equally short.
Laurens County falls in the upper half of SC counties by active-designation volume, at rank 18 of 46. For moderate counties, the useful move is usually a state peer check plus the score cards above, not a national superlative claim.
Acting on Laurens County's high-priority primary care
Laurens County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Laurens County's high-priority primary care designations are where NHSC placement geography concentrates, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's primary care burden compares with the rest of SC before drawing conclusions from a single score. SC overview
- Check the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score against HRSA's designation thresholds. 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.
Nearby primary-care score peers
Closest U.S. counties on active primary-care HPSA score to Laurens County's 17.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laurens County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Laurens County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 60.6. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Laurens County have?
Laurens County, SC has 6 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 2 in primary care, 2 in mental health, and 2 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Laurens County's HPSA score of 17.0 mean?
17.0 in primary 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 Laurens County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Laurens 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.
Next read: The Primary-Care Shortage · SC state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 45059. 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.