HRSA designation data Public-data reference Medically Underserved Area

PR · Healthcare shortage profile

Carolina County, PR

Home to 154,815 residents, with 1 active HRSA shortage designation.

Active HPSAs
1
Population
154,815
Peak shortage score
18.0
MUA Index
0.0
PR state overview → About this data

The verdict

Carolina County carries a comparatively light shortage burden - 1 active HPSA designation, more than 0% of the 2,991 US counties with a designated shortage, with dental the deepest gap.

1
Active HPSA designations
0
Primary-care shortages
18
Peak severity score (of 26)
Top 100%
US counties by volume

Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 72031. Population: 154,815.

Carolina County, PR (population 154,815) has 0 primary care, 0 mental health, and 1 dental Health Professional Shortage Area designation active according to HRSA. The county is also designated a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) with an MUA Index of 0.0. Shortage severity scores and individual HPSA designations are detailed below.

0
Primary Care HPSAs
0
Mental Health HPSAs
1
Dental HPSAs

HPSA Scores

Primary Care -
Mental Health 0.0
Dental 18.0

Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need.

Medically Underserved Area

MUA Designated
MUA Index: 0.0

Carolina County vs. every US county

Total active HPSA designations, how this county's shortage volume compares nationally

1 Top 100% higher than 0% of 2,991 US counties

0–20: 2,828 US counties (95%). This entry sits in this band. 20–40: 124 US counties (4%). Above this entry. 40–60: 27 US counties (1%). Above this entry. 60–80: 6 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 80–100: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 100–120: 2 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 120–140: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 140–160: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 160–180: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 180–200: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 200–220: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 220–240: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 240–260: 0 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 260–280: 1 US counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0 280 every US county with a designation, bucketed by value

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 1 active (designated) HPSAs in Carolina County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.

Name Type Score
LI - Carolina Municipio dental 18.0

What the HRSA Data Shows for Carolina County

Carolina County, PR - population 154,815 carries 1 active Health Professional Shortage Area designation in the HRSA Data Warehouse: 0 in primary care, 0 in mental health, and 1 in dental. The county is also flagged as a Medically Underserved Area, scoring 0.0 on the MUA Index (lower scores indicate greater need).

The county's highest shortage-severity score across the three categories is 18.0, 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. Mental-health scoring reached 0.0 (0–25 scale). Dental scoring reached 18.0 (0–26 scale).

HRSA lists 1 active (designated) HPSA record tied to Carolina County, covering the specific facilities, geographies, and population groups that received the designation; the table above shows the most severe.

Carolina County designations by care type

Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category.

designations
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs As of 2026

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Carolina County, PR · 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 Carolina County's data

Carolina County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.

  • Carolina County's 1 active designation 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 PR before you draw conclusions from a single score. PR 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many healthcare shortage areas does Carolina County have?

Carolina County, PR has 1 Health Professional Shortage Area designation: 0 in primary care, 0 in mental health, and 1 in dental care, according to HRSA data.

Is Carolina County a Medically Underserved Area?

Yes, Carolina County is designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by HRSA. The MUA Index for this county is 0.0. 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 Carolina County?

Based on HRSA shortage designations, Carolina County needs additional providers in 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 Carolina County compare to other counties in PR?

Carolina County has 1 total HPSA designation with a peak shortage score of 18.0. You can compare shortage levels across all counties in PR on the state overview page, or view national county rankings to see where Carolina County stands relative to the rest of the country.

Learn More About Healthcare Shortages

Explore more PR shortage data

Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 72031. 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.