WA · Healthcare shortage profile
King County, WA
Home to 2,269,675 residents, with 55 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 55
- Population
- 2,269,675
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 52.5
The verdict
King County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 55 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 55
- Active HPSA designations
- 20
- Primary-care shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 1%
- US counties by volume
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 53033. Population: 2,269,675.
King County, WA (population 2,269,675) has 20 primary care, 18 mental health, and 17 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 52.5. 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
King County vs. every US county
Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally
55 Top 1% higher than 99% 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
Showing the 40 most-severe of 55 active (designated) HPSAs in King County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD | dental | 25.0 |
| Seattle Roots Community Health | dental | 25.0 |
| NEIGHBORCARE HEALTH | dental | 25.0 |
| HEALTHPOINT | dental | 25.0 |
| KING COUNTY | dental | 23.0 |
| INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES | dental | 23.0 |
| SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Seattle Roots Community Health | primary_care | 21.0 |
| NEIGHBORCARE HEALTH | primary_care | 21.0 |
| HEALTHPOINT | primary_care | 21.0 |
| HEALTHPOINT | mental_health | 21.0 |
| SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS | dental | 21.0 |
| INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES | primary_care | 20.0 |
| SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS | primary_care | 20.0 |
| SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS | mental_health | 20.0 |
| KING COUNTY | primary_care | 19.0 |
| SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Seattle Indian Health Board | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Raging River Recovery Center | primary_care | 18.0 |
| NARA – Youth Prevention Program | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Seattle Indian Health Board - Pioneer Square Center | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Snoqualmie Tribal Family Clinic (Formerly North Bend Family) | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Seattle Indian Health Board - Lake City Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Muckleshoot Behavioral Health Program | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Muckleshoot Tribal Clinic | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Muckleshoot Behavioral Health Program | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Muckleshoot Tribal Clinic | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Muckleshoot Dental Clinic | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Snoqualmie-North Bend SA | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Enumclaw | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Vashon-Maury Island | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Muckleshoot Dental Clinic | mental_health | 16.0 |
| NEIGHBORCARE HEALTH | mental_health | 16.0 |
| East King County | mental_health | 15.0 |
| KING COUNTY | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Muckleshoot Tribal Clinic | dental | 15.0 |
| Snoqualmie Tribal Family Clinic (Formerly North Bend Family) | mental_health | 14.0 |
| Muckleshoot Behavioral Health Program | dental | 14.0 |
| Seattle Roots Community Health | mental_health | 13.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for King County
King County, WA - population 2,269,675 carries 55 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 20 in primary care, 18 in mental health, and 17 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 52.5 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 25.0, 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 21.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 21.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 25.0 (0–26 scale).
HRSA lists 55 active (designated) HPSA records tied to King County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.
King County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
20 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
18 designations
- Dental
Dental
17 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 King 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 King County's data
King County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- King County's 55 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.
Counties With a Similar Primary Care Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose HRSA primary-care HPSA score is closest to King County's 21.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does King County have?
King County, WA has 55 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 20 in primary care, 18 in mental health, and 17 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is King County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, King County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 52.5. 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 King County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, King 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 King County compare to other counties in WA?
King County has 55 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 25.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in WA on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where King County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more WA shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 53033. 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.