WA · Healthcare shortage profile
Jefferson County, WA
Home to 32,977 residents, with 27 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 27
- Population
- 32,977
- Peak shortage score
- 20.0
- MUA Index
- -
The verdict
Jefferson County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 27 active HPSA designations, more than 97% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with dental the deepest gap.
- 27
- Active HPSA designations
- 8
- Primary-care shortages
- 20
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 3%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 53031. Population: 32,977.
Jefferson County, WA (population 32,977) has 8 primary care, 9 mental health, and 10 dental Health Professional Shortage Area designations active according to HRSA. 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
This county does not have an active MUA designation.
Jefferson County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
27 Top 3% higher than 97% 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
All 27 active (designated) HPSAs in Jefferson County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Hoh River CHR | dental | 19.0 |
| Jefferson County | mental_health | 18.0 |
| West Clallam-Jefferson Service Area | dental | 18.0 |
| Hoh River CHR | primary_care | 16.0 |
| SOUTH COUNTY MEDICAL CLINIC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE TOWNSEND CLINIC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE PORT LUDLOW CLINIC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE EXPRESS CLINIC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE SHERIDAN CLINIC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE WATERSHIP CLINIC | mental_health | 16.0 |
| SOUTH COUNTY MEDICAL CLINIC | primary_care | 15.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE SHERIDAN CLINIC | primary_care | 15.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE WATERSHIP CLINIC | primary_care | 15.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE EXPRESS CLINIC | primary_care | 15.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE TOWNSEND CLINIC | primary_care | 15.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE TOWNSEND CLINIC | dental | 15.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE WATERSHIP CLINIC | dental | 15.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE EXPRESS CLINIC | dental | 15.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE SHERIDAN CLINIC | dental | 15.0 |
| Queets Health Station | mental_health | 13.0 |
| Hoh River CHR | mental_health | 13.0 |
| Queets Health Station | dental | 13.0 |
| Queets Health Station | primary_care | 12.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE PORT LUDLOW CLINIC | primary_care | 11.0 |
| Port Angeles/Townsend Service Area | dental | 10.0 |
| SOUTH COUNTY MEDICAL CLINIC | dental | 9.0 |
| JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE PORT LUDLOW CLINIC | dental | 7.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Jefferson County
Jefferson County, WA - population 32,977 carries 27 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 8 in primary care, 9 in mental health, and 10 in dental. It does not currently hold a Medically Underserved Area designation, though individual HPSAs can still be present at the service-area level.
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 18.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 18.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 20.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 27 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Jefferson County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
Jefferson County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Dental
Dental
10 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
9 designations
- Primary care
Primary care
8 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County's data
Jefferson County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Jefferson County's 27 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 dental 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.
Counties With a Similar Primary Care Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose HRSA primary-care HPSA score is closest to Jefferson County's 18.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Jefferson County have?
Jefferson County, WA has 27 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 8 in primary care, 9 in mental health, and 10 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Jefferson County a Medically Underserved Area?
Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Jefferson 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 Jefferson County compare to other counties in WA?
Jefferson County has 27 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 Jefferson County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more WA shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 53031. 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.