TX · Healthcare shortage profile
San Patricio County, TX
Peak severity leads this reading: San Patricio County's highest active HPSA score is 18.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 68,755.
- Active HPSAs
- 3
- Population
- 68,755
- Peak shortage score
- 18.0
- MUA Index
- -
Light-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, San Patricio County carries a comparatively light shortage burden - 3 active HPSA designations, more than 20% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 3
- Active HPSA designations
- 1
- Primary-care shortages
- 18
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 80%
- US counties by volume
Few Census ZCTAs touch San Patricio County
The Census ZCTA-county crosswalk lists only 9 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas intersecting San Patricio County, a sparse footprint relative to most US counties in this mirror (at or below the 9-ZIP tercile cut).
Intersecting ZCTA
4 additional ZCTAs intersect this county in the crosswalk (ordered by land share).
Source: Census ZCTA–county relationship file joined to this portal's county FIPS set. As of 2026-08-15.
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for San Patricio County, TX on its own pages , computed from the retained designation mirror as of 2026-08-15. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.
-
Peak HPSA score 18.0 clears HRSA's 17-point high-priority line.
Scores at or above 17 on the 0–25/26 scales open NHSC placement priority for the matching provider type; eligibility still follows the designated area, not the county boundary alone.
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Closing San Patricio County's active designations would take about 14 additional clinician FTEs, with primary care the largest gap.
HRSA providers_needed summed once per HPSA id (no double-count across status rows): 7.5 primary care, 1.4 mental health, 5.6 dental. This is the federal gap estimate, not a headcount of practising clinicians.
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33.3% of San Patricio County's 3 active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental (denominator 3).
San Patricio County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
3 Top 80% higher than 20% 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. San Patricio County falls in the upper half of TX counties by active-designation volume, at rank 98 of 254. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 48409. Population: 68,755.
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers San Patricio County in the current HRSA release, federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need. What counts as a high score?
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 3 active (designated) HPSAs in San Patricio County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| LI-San Patricio County | primary_care | 18.0 |
| LI-San Patricio County | dental | 17.0 |
| San Patricio County | mental_health | 12.0 |
Light-burden reading for San Patricio County
Peak severity leads this reading: San Patricio County's highest active HPSA score is 18.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Primary care is where San Patricio County is stretched thinnest: HRSA scores it 18.0 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 12.0 of 25; Dental care reads 17.0 of 26. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers San Patricio County, so federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone.
San Patricio County carries 3 active designations and sits below the national mid-pack (above 20% of counties). A light footprint still matters: a single high-score dental or mental-health record can open program geography even when the county total looks small next to heavy peers.
San Patricio County falls in the upper half of TX counties by active-designation volume, at rank 98 of 254. Read the active scores and the deepest-care guide link below before collapsing this county into a "no shortage" story.
Light-volume FTE gap for San Patricio County
HRSA providers_needed summed once per HPSA id for San Patricio County's active designations: about 14 FTE, a federal gap estimate, not a headcount of practising clinicians.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for San Patricio 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.
Acting on San Patricio County's designations
San Patricio County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- San Patricio County's 3 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 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 lookup
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 near San Patricio County's primary score of 18.0
One peer set for this severity-led county: nearest active primary HPSA score to 18.0 (severity lead on this page is “LI-San Patricio County”).
Whatcom County, WA
18.0 primary score · 226,847 pop.
Pitt County, NC
18.0 primary score · 170,243 pop.
Rock Island County, IL
18.0 primary score · 144,672 pop.
Ventura County, CA
18.0 primary score · 843,843 pop.
Douglas County, NE
18.0 primary score · 584,526 pop.
Lane County, OR
18.0 primary score · 382,971 pop.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which record sets San Patricio County's peak score of 18.0?
- "LI-San Patricio County" leads the active set (score 18.0; primary care; 3,172 people in the service area; ~7.5 FTE still needed on the record; designated 11/22/2021). Clearing 17 opens NHSC high-priority placement for the matching provider type on the designated geography. Discipline mix across 3 active rows: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental.
- Why is San Patricio County not listed as a Medically Underserved Area?
- San Patricio County has no MUA designation on this release. Federal shortage support here runs through the active HPSA record set alone.
- Which other active designations sit under San Patricio County's severity reading?
- After "LI-San Patricio County", the next active names on this release are "LI-San Patricio County", "LI-San Patricio County" and "San Patricio County". Provider need (id-de-duped) totals ~14 FTE across disciplines that still carry a gap.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 48409. This county’s designations come from BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_PC.csv (primary care) , BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_MH.csv (mental health) and BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_DH.csv (dental) — download the normalized export on our open data page. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
HRSA Data Warehouse HPSA + MUA/P records for FIPS 48409 (San Patricio County, TX), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 3; peak score 18.0; signature peak score 18.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.