MP · Healthcare shortage profile
Northern Islands County, MP
Home to 7 residents, with 2 active HRSA shortage designations.
- Active HPSAs
- 2
- Population
- 7
- Peak shortage score
- 26.0
- MUA Index
- —
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 69085. Population: 7.
Northern Islands County, MP (population 7) has 1 primary care, 1 mental health, and 0 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.
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 2 active (designated) HPSAs in Northern Islands County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands | mental_health | 19.0 |
| Commonwealth Northern Mariana Islands | primary_care | 16.0 |
What the HRSA Data Shows for Northern Islands County
Northern Islands County, MP — population 7 carries 2 active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 1 in primary care, 1 in mental health, and 0 in dental. It does not currently hold a Medically Underserved Area designation, though individual HPSAs can still be present at the service-area level. These three HPSA categories are evaluated independently by HRSA, so a county can show heavy pressure on one axis — for example mental-health access — while remaining closer to the provider ratio threshold for primary care.
The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 26.0, 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 16.0 (0–25 scale). Mental-health scoring reached 19.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 26.0 (0–26 scale). HPSA scores weight the provider-to-population ratio, poverty rate, travel time to the nearest source of care, and — for dental — water fluoridation status. They are recalculated as HRSA updates its quarterly designation cycle.
HRSA lists 2 active (designated) HPSA records tied to Northern Islands County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe. This designation data is the basis for more than thirty federal programs — loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps, Medicare bonus payments, Community Health Center grants, and J-1 visa waivers — which together channel billions of dollars annually to recruit providers into HPSAs. These figures describe structural access to care only; they are not a substitute for medical advice, and patients searching for a specific appointment should contact a provider directly or consult their insurance network.
Northern Islands County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
1 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
1 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 Northern Islands County, MP · 2024 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare shortage areas does Northern Islands County have?
Northern Islands County, MP has 2 Health Professional Shortage Area designations: 1 in primary care, 1 in mental health, and 0 in dental care, according to HRSA data.
Is Northern Islands County a Medically Underserved Area?
Northern Islands 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 Northern Islands County?
Based on HRSA shortage designations, Northern Islands County needs additional providers in primary care (family physicians, internists, pediatricians), mental health (psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers). 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 Northern Islands County compare to other counties in MP?
Northern Islands County has 2 total HPSA designations with a peak shortage score of 26.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in MP on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Northern Islands County stands relative to the rest of the country.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more MP shortage data
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 69085. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
Related
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.