WA · Healthcare shortage profile
King County, WA
Home to 2,269,675 residents, with 63 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 63
- Population
- 2,269,675
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 52.5
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, King County ranks among the most underserved counties in the country - 63 active HPSA designations, more than 99% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 63
- Active HPSA designations
- 17
- Dental shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 1%
- US counties by volume
Corpus placement
Active-designation volume placement
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, King County carries 63 active designations, above 99% of real US counties. Use the state peer line below before treating the national percentile as a local access verdict.
State peer position. King County is tied for the highest active-designation count among 39 real counties in WA. Ties share a rank.
Computed from current designated HPSA rows for every five-digit county FIPS. See the placement methodology.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 53033. Population: 2,269,675.
Medically Underserved Area
Peak severity scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
Showing the 40 most-severe of 63 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 |
| Neighborcare Health | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Healthpoint | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Seattle Indian Health Board | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Seattle Roots Community Health | primary_care | 21.0 |
| Healthpoint | mental_health | 21.0 |
| Sea Mar Community Health Centers | dental | 21.0 |
| Sea Mar Community Health Centers | primary_care | 20.0 |
| International Community Health Services | 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 |
| Nara – Youth Prevention Program | primary_care | 18.0 |
| LI - North Seattle Service Area | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Seattle Indian Health Board | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Raging River Recovery Center | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Seattle Indian Health Board - Lake City Clinic | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Snoqualmie Tribal Family Clinic (Formerly North Bend Family) | primary_care | 18.0 |
| Seattle Indian Health Board - Pioneer Square Center | 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 |
| LI-Central King Service Area | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Muckleshoot Dental Clinic | primary_care | 16.0 |
| LI-Southwest King Service Area | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Enumclaw | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Snoqualmie-North Bend SA | primary_care | 16.0 |
| Vashon-Maury Island | primary_care | 16.0 |
| LI-Auburn-Federal Way Service Area | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Neighborcare Health | mental_health | 16.0 |
| LI-SeaTac-Tukwila Service Area | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Muckleshoot Dental Clinic | mental_health | 16.0 |
| King County | mental_health | 15.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for King County
Dental care carries King County's deepest shortage reading, 25.0 on HRSA's 0–26 dental scale, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 21.0 of 25; Mental health reads 21.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 52.5, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places King County above 99% of real US counties (63 active designations: 24 primary care, 22 mental health, 17 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 25.0. The table on this page lists the highest-severity records first so a reader can see which named facilities, geographies, or population groups drive that burden without treating the county total as a personal appointment forecast.
King County is tied for the highest active-designation count among 39 real counties in WA. Heavy-burden counties are where NHSC placement, Community Health Center grant geography, and related federal instruments concentrate; eligibility still follows the designated area and provider type, not the county boundary alone.
King County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category (high-priority disciplines emphasized).
- Primary care
Primary care
24 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
22 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.
Acting on a heavy-burden county
King County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- King County's 63 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 ratio checker
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 With a Similar Dental Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose active HRSA dental HPSA score is closest to King County's 25.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
How many healthcare shortage areas does King County have?
King County, WA has 63 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 24 in primary care, 22 in mental health, and 17 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does King County's HPSA score of 25.0 mean?
25.0 in dental care clears 17, HRSA's high-priority line, which is what makes providers here eligible for NHSC placement and enhanced 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.
Which federal programs do King County's designations unlock?
King County's 63 active designations open NHSC placement, Community Health Center grants, the Medicare bonus and J-1 waivers, but eligibility follows the designated area and provider type, not the county line.
How does King County compare to other counties in WA?
King County has 63 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.