HRSA designation data Public-data reference 0

UT · Healthcare shortage profile

Wasatch County, UT

Home to 34,788 residents, with 1 active HRSA shortage designation.

Active HPSAs
1
Population
34,788
Peak shortage score
17.0
MUA Index

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 49051. Population: 34,788.

Wasatch County, UT (population 34,788) has 0 primary care, 1 mental health, and 0 dental Health Professional Shortage Area designation active according to HRSA. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.

0
Primary Care HPSAs
1
Mental Health HPSAs
0
Dental HPSAs

HPSA Scores

Primary Care 15.0
Mental Health 17.0
Dental 0.0

Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.

Medically Underserved Area

This county does not have an active MUA designation.

Highest-severity HPSA designations

All 1 active (designated) HPSAs in Wasatch County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
Wasatch County mental_health 17.0

What the HRSA Data Shows for Wasatch County

Wasatch County, UT — population 34,788 carries 1 active Health Professional Shortage Area designation in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 0 in primary care, 1 in mental health, and 0 in dental. It does not currently hold a Medically Underserved Area designation, though individual HPSAs can still be present at the service-area level. These three HPSA categories are evaluated independently by HRSA, so a county can show heavy pressure on one axis — for example mental-health access — while remaining closer to the provider ratio threshold for primary care.

The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 17.0, 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 15.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 17.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 0.0 (0–26 scale). HPSA scores weight the provider-to-population ratio, poverty rate, travel time to the nearest source of care, and — for dental — water fluoridation status. They are recalculated as HRSA updates its quarterly designation cycle.

HRSA lists 1 active (designated) HPSA record tied to Wasatch County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe. This designation data is the basis for more than thirty federal programs — loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps, Medicare bonus payments, Community Health Center grants, and J-1 visa waivers — which together channel billions of dollars annually to recruit providers into HPSAs. These figures describe structural access to care only; they are not a substitute for medical advice, and patients searching for a specific appointment should contact a provider directly or consult their insurance network.

Wasatch County designations by care type

Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.

designations
Source HRSA Data Warehouse — designated HPSAs As of 2025

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse — Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Wasatch County, UT · 2024 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many healthcare shortage areas does Wasatch County have?

Wasatch County, UT has 1 Health Professional Shortage Area designation: 0 in primary care, 1 in mental health, and 0 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

Is Wasatch County a Medically Underserved Area?

Wasatch County does not currently have a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designation from HRSA. However, the county may still have individual HPSA designations for specific provider types.

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 Wasatch County?

Based on HRSA shortage designations, Wasatch County needs additional providers in mental health (psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers). 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 Wasatch County compare to other counties in UT?

Wasatch County has 1 total HPSA designation with a peak shortage score of 17.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in UT on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Wasatch County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 49051. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.

Related

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.

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