WY · Healthcare shortage profile
Sweetwater County, WY
Home to 42,272 residents, with 5 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 5
- Population
- 42,272
- Peak shortage score
- 18.0
- MUA Index
- 59.4
Mid-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Sweetwater County holds a moderate federal shortage burden - 5 active HPSA designations, more than 47% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 5
- Active HPSA designations
- 2
- Mental-health shortages
- 18
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 53%
- US counties by volume
Sweetwater County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
5 Top 53% higher than 47% 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. Sweetwater County falls in the upper half of WY counties by active-designation volume, at rank 8 of 23. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 56037. Population: 42,272.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 5 active (designated) HPSAs in Sweetwater County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Wyoming | mental_health | 18.0 |
| Castle Rock Hospital District | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Castle Rock Hospital District | mental_health | 15.0 |
| Sweetwater County | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Castle Rock Hospital District | dental | 9.0 |
Moderate-burden reading for Sweetwater County
Sweetwater County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 18.0 of 25, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 17.0 of 25; Dental care reads 9.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 59.4, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Sweetwater County sits in the middle of the national designation-volume distribution (above 47% of counties) with 5 active records. That is enough for a formal shortage footprint without landing in the heaviest US tier. Compare the three discipline counts (2/2/1) before assuming every care category is equally short.
Sweetwater County falls in the upper half of WY counties by active-designation volume, at rank 8 of 23. For moderate counties, the useful move is usually a state peer check plus the score cards above, not a national superlative claim.
Sweetwater 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
2 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
2 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 Sweetwater County, WY · 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 Sweetwater County's designations
Sweetwater County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Sweetwater County's 5 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 WY before you draw conclusions from a single score. WY 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.
Nearby mental-health score peers
Closest U.S. counties on active mental-health HPSA score to Sweetwater County's 18.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sweetwater County a Medically Underserved Area?
Yes, Sweetwater County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 59.4. MUA designation qualifies the area for enhanced federal funding and provider incentive programs.
How many healthcare shortage areas does Sweetwater County have?
Sweetwater County, WY has 5 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 2 in primary care, 2 in mental health, and 1 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
What does Sweetwater County's HPSA score of 18.0 mean?
18.0 in mental health 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 Sweetwater County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Sweetwater 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.
Next read: The Mental-Health Provider Shortage · WY state overview · NHSC loan repayment
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 56037. 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.