TX · Healthcare shortage profile
Harris County, TX
Home to 4,731,145 residents, with 47 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 47
- Population
- 4,731,145
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 48.4
The verdict
Harris County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 47 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with mental health the deepest gap.
- 47
- Active HPSA designations
- 15
- Primary-care shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 1%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 48201. Population: 4,731,145.
Harris County, TX (population 4,731,145) has 15 primary care, 17 mental health, and 15 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 48.4. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.
HPSA Scores
Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Medically Underserved Area
Harris County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
47 Top 1% higher than 99% of 2,991 US counties
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
Showing the 40 most-severe of 47 active (designated) HPSAs in Harris County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| EL CENTRO DE CORAZON | dental | 25.0 |
| PASADENA HEALTH CENTER, INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| SPRING BRANCH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | dental | 25.0 |
| HARRIS CTYHOSP DIST | dental | 25.0 |
| HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS-HOUSTON | dental | 25.0 |
| HOUSTON AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH COALITION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA | dental | 25.0 |
| LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES INC | dental | 25.0 |
| HOUSTON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. | dental | 25.0 |
| BEE BUSY WELLNESS CENTER | dental | 25.0 |
| ST. HOPE FOUNDATION | dental | 25.0 |
| PASADENA HEALTH CENTER, INC. | primary_care | 22.0 |
| HOUSTON AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. | primary_care | 22.0 |
| HOUSTON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. | primary_care | 22.0 |
| LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES INC | primary_care | 22.0 |
| HARRIS CTYHOSP DIST | primary_care | 22.0 |
| EL CENTRO DE CORAZON | primary_care | 22.0 |
| HOUSTON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. | mental_health | 22.0 |
| SPRING BRANCH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | primary_care | 21.0 |
| ST. HOPE FOUNDATION | primary_care | 21.0 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH COALITION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA | primary_care | 20.0 |
| HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS-HOUSTON | primary_care | 20.0 |
| EL CENTRO DE CORAZON | mental_health | 20.0 |
| SPRING BRANCH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | mental_health | 20.0 |
| PASADENA HEALTH CENTER, INC. | mental_health | 19.0 |
| HOUSTON AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. | mental_health | 18.0 |
| ST. HOPE FOUNDATION | mental_health | 17.0 |
| HARRIS CTYHOSP DIST | mental_health | 17.0 |
| TOMAGWA MINISTRIES INC | dental | 17.0 |
| University of Houston System | primary_care | 16.0 |
| TOMAGWA MINISTRIES INC | primary_care | 16.0 |
| BEE BUSY WELLNESS CENTER | primary_care | 16.0 |
| LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES INC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| TOMAGWA MINISTRIES INC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH COALITION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA | mental_health | 15.0 |
| LI - Harris County | mental_health | 15.0 |
| University of Houston System | mental_health | 15.0 |
| University of Houston System | dental | 15.0 |
| FDC - Houston | primary_care | 12.0 |
| FDC - Houston | mental_health | 12.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Harris County
Harris County, TX - population 4,731,145 carries 47 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 15 in primary care, 17 in mental health, and 15 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 48.4 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 25.0, 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 22.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 22.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 25.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 47 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Harris County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Harris County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Mental health
Mental health
17 designations
- Primary care
Primary care
15 designations
- Dental
Dental
15 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 Harris County, TX · 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 Harris County's data
Harris County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Harris County's 47 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 mental health burden compares with the rest of TX before you draw conclusions from a single score. TX 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.
Counties With a Similar Primary Care Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose HRSA primary-care HPSA score is closest to Harris County's 22.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Harris County have?
Harris County, TX has 47 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 15 in primary care, 17 in mental health, and 15 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Harris County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Harris County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 48.4. 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 Harris County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Harris 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 Harris County compare to other counties in TX?
Harris County has 47 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in TX on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Harris County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more TX shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 48201. 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.
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.