HRSA designation data Public-data reference Medically Underserved Area

WA · Healthcare shortage profile

Grays Harbor County, WA

Home to 75,636 residents, with 36 active HRSA shortage designations.

Active HPSAs
36
Population
75,636
Peak shortage score
20.0
MUA Index
50.1

The verdict

Grays Harbor County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 36 active HPSA designations, more than 98% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.

36
Active HPSA designations
12
Primary-care shortages
20
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 2%
US counties by volume

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 53027. Population: 75,636.

Grays Harbor County, WA (population 75,636) has 12 primary care, 12 mental health, and 12 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 50.1. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.

12
Primary Care HPSAs
12
Mental Health HPSAs
12
Dental HPSAs

HPSA Scores

Primary Care 17.0
Mental Health 18.0
Dental 20.0

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

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 50.1

Grays Harbor County vs. every US county

Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally

36 Top 2% higher than 98% of 2,991 US counties

0–20: 2,828 US counties (95%). Below this entry. 20–40: 124 US counties (4%). This entry sits in this band. 40–60: 27 US counties (1%). Above this entry. 60–80: 6 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 80–100: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 100–120: 2 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 120–140: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 140–160: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 160–180: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 180–200: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 200–220: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 220–240: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 240–260: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 260–280: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0 280 every US county with a designation, bucketed by value

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

All 36 active (designated) HPSAs in Grays Harbor County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
Roger Saux Health Center dental 20.0
Squaxin Island Treatment Ctr mental_health 18.0
Chehalis Family Services mental_health 18.0
Chehalis Community Clinic mental_health 18.0
Chehalis Family Services primary_care 17.0
Chehalis Community Clinic primary_care 17.0
Squaxin Island Treatment Ctr primary_care 17.0
GHCH HOQUIAM CLINIC primary_care 16.0
Grays Harbor County mental_health 16.0
ELMA FAMILY MEDICINE mental_health 16.0
GHCH MONTESANO CLINIC mental_health 16.0
SUMMIT PACIFIC HEALTHCARE CLINIC mental_health 16.0
GHCH ABERDEEN EAST CLINIC mental_health 16.0
GHCH HOQUIAM CLINIC mental_health 16.0
MCCLEARY HEALTHCARE CLINIC mental_health 16.0
CF-Stafford Creek Correctional Center dental 15.0
GHCH ABERDEEN EAST CLINIC primary_care 14.0
LI-Grays Harbor County primary_care 14.0
GHCH MONTESANO CLINIC primary_care 14.0
Squaxin Island Treatment Ctr dental 14.0
ELMA FAMILY MEDICINE primary_care 13.0
MCCLEARY HEALTHCARE CLINIC primary_care 13.0
Roger Saux Health Center mental_health 13.0
GHCH ABERDEEN EAST CLINIC dental 13.0
Chehalis Community Clinic dental 13.0
Chehalis Family Services dental 13.0
Roger Saux Health Center primary_care 12.0
Stafford Creek Correctional Center mental_health 12.0
SUMMIT PACIFIC HEALTHCARE CLINIC primary_care 11.0
GHCH HOQUIAM CLINIC dental 11.0
MCCLEARY HEALTHCARE CLINIC dental 11.0
SUMMIT PACIFIC HEALTHCARE CLINIC dental 11.0
ELMA FAMILY MEDICINE dental 11.0
GHCH MONTESANO CLINIC dental 11.0
Grays Harbor County dental 10.0
Stafford Creek Correctional Center primary_care 6.0

What the HRSA Data Shows for Grays Harbor County

Grays Harbor County, WA - population 75,636 carries 36 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 12 in primary care, 12 in mental health, and 12 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 50.1 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).

The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 20.0, 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 17.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 18.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 20.0 (0–26 scale).

HRSA lists 36 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Grays Harbor County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.

Grays Harbor 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 2026

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Grays Harbor County, WA · 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 Grays Harbor County's data

Grays Harbor County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.

  • Grays Harbor County's 36 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 WA before you draw conclusions from a single score. WA 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many healthcare shortage areas does Grays Harbor County have?

Grays Harbor County, WA has 36 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 12 in primary care, 12 in mental health, and 12 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

Is Grays Harbor County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Grays Harbor County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 50.1. 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 Grays Harbor County?

Based on HRSA shortage designations, Grays Harbor 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 Grays Harbor County compare to other counties in WA?

Grays Harbor County has 36 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 20.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in WA on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Grays Harbor County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 53027. 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.

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.