VT · Healthcare shortage profile
Washington County, VT
Peak severity leads this reading: Washington County's highest active HPSA score is 20.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 59,807.
- Active HPSAs
- 3
- Population
- 59,807
- Peak shortage score
- 20.0
- MUA Index
- 57.2
Light-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Washington 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
- Mental-health shortages
- 20
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 80%
- US counties by volume
Dense ZCTA lattice over Washington County
Washington County intersects 28 Census ZCTAs, above the 15-ZIP dense-tercile cut. Shortage designations still attach at the county (or smaller HPSA) grain; the ZIP list is geography, not a second severity score.
Largest land-share ZCTAs in this county
16 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 Washington County, VT 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 20.0 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.
-
33.3% of Washington 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).
Washington 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. Washington County falls in the upper half of VT counties by active-designation volume, at rank 4 of 14. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 50023. Population: 59,807.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. 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 Washington County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Washington County Community HE | mental_health | 20.0 |
| Northeast Washington County Community HE | dental | 10.0 |
| Northeast Washington County Community HE | primary_care | 3.0 |
Light-burden reading for Washington County
Peak severity leads this reading: Washington County's highest active HPSA score is 20.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Washington County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 20.0 of 25, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 3.0 of 25; Dental care reads 10.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 57.2, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Washington 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.
Washington County falls in the upper half of VT counties by active-designation volume, at rank 4 of 14. Read the active scores and the deepest-care guide link below before collapsing this county into a "no shortage" story.
Acting on Washington County's high-priority mental health
Washington County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Washington County's high-priority mental health designations are where NHSC placement geography concentrates, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's mental health burden compares with the rest of VT before drawing conclusions from a single score. VT overview
- Check the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score against HRSA's designation thresholds. 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 Washington County's mental score of 20.0
One peer set for this severity-led county: nearest active mental HPSA score to 20.0 (severity lead on this page is “NORTHEAST WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY HE”).
Volusia County, FL
20.0 mental score · 553,543 pop.
Brazoria County, TX
20.0 mental score · 372,031 pop.
San Luis Obispo County, CA
20.0 mental score · 282,424 pop.
Richmond City County, VA
20.0 mental score · 226,610 pop.
Peoria County, IL
20.0 mental score · 181,830 pop.
Humboldt County, CA
20.0 mental score · 136,463 pop.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Washington County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
- Yes - Washington County carries an MUA designation (index 57.2; lower = greater measured need) in addition to its HPSA rows. MUA and HPSA are separate HRSA tracks; both can open different federal pathways.
- Which record sets Washington County's peak score of 20.0?
- "NORTHEAST WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY HE" leads the active set (score 20.0; mental health; 11,788 people in the service area; designated 06/01/1977). 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.
- Which other active designations sit under Washington County's severity reading?
- After "NORTHEAST WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY HE", the next active names on this release are "NORTHEAST WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY HE", "NORTHEAST WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY HE" and "NORTHEAST WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY HE". Provider need (id-de-duped) totals ~0 FTE across disciplines that still carry a gap.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 50023. 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 50023 (Washington County, VT), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 3; peak score 20.0; signature peak score 20.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.