HRSA Counties Indexed
44
with HPSA / MUA coverage
Medically underserved areas & HPSA profile
Medically Underserved Areas in Idaho
50 Medically Underserved Areas and 253 active HRSA Health Professional Shortage Area designations across Idaho.
- MUAs
- 50
- Total HPSAs
- 253
- Primary care
- 104
- Mental health
- 65
- Dental
- 84
Highest-density verdict
Current HRSA Data Warehouse records put Idaho in the highest-density quarter of states and territories. It carries 253 active shortage designations across 44 counties; Bingham County has the largest county count at 21. About 65.8% of residents live in a geographic shortage county.
- 253
- Active HPSA designations
- 104
- Primary-care shortages
- 50
- Medically underserved areas
- 65.8%
- Residents in a shortage county
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for Idaho on its own pages , computed from the retained designation mirror as of 2026-08-03. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.
-
Bingham County holds 8.3% of Idaho's 253 active designations (21 of 253).
44 of 44 counties in this profile carry at least one active record; the remainder are zero-active on this release.
-
41.1% of Idaho's active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from state aggregates: 104 primary care, 65 mental health, 84 dental (denominator 253).
-
Closing Idaho's active designations would take about 192 additional clinician FTEs, led by primary care.
HRSA providers_needed summed once per HPSA id across the state: 92 primary care, 50 mental health, 51 dental. Federal gap estimate, not a practising-clinician headcount.
Corpus placement
Where Idaho sits among all 56 states and territories
Idaho carries 253 active HPSA designations for a population of 1,839,106, which is 13.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking it 14 of 56 and above 75% of states and territories, against a median of 7.3.
20 of those are county-wide geographic designations; the remainder are facility-, population- or clinic-based, which is why the county map and the designation count answer different questions.
Designation density tracks rural geography as much as unmet need: AK records 134.7 designations per 100,000 residents and NJ 1.5, because a sparsely-settled state accumulates more separate designations to cover the same population. Designations also overlap, so this counts designations, not people. Counted as distinct HRSA designation IDs, the same unit as the totals above. Computed from the designation records and county populations behind this page; states without county population data are given no placement rather than an estimated one.
Snapshot comparison
Change since the previous HRSA snapshot
Between Jun 2, 2026 and Jul 25, 2026, the number of active stable HPSA IDs recorded for Idaho changed from 244 to 253 (+9).
- IDs added
- 8
- IDs absent now
- 0
- Newly designated
- 1
- No longer designated
- 0
Among IDs present in both snapshots, scores rose for 7 and fell for 4; recorded providers needed rose for 2 and fell for 3. These are changes in published designation records, not evidence of cause, care quality, or patient outcomes. See the national comparison and limitations.
Medically Underserved Areas
50
Residents in Geographic Shortage Areas
1,209,491
% Residents in Geographic Shortage
65.8%
Discipline Mix
104 / 65 / 84 PC/MH/D
Primary care · Mental health · Dental
% Residents in Geographic Shortage-Designated Counties 65.8%
Idaho Shortage Designations by Care Type
How Idaho's 253 active HRSA designations split across the three provider categories. According to KFF's May 2026 tracker, Idaho has adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. That policy context does not measure provider supply, appointment availability, or care quality.
Idaho HPSA designations by type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
104 designations
- Dental
Dental
84 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
65 designations
Idaho HPSA Counties by Care Type
County lists for the three HRSA shortage disciplines searchers ask for by name (dental, primary care, mental health). Counts are live designated-HPSA records in this release, not provider headcounts.
Dental HPSA counties in Idaho
38 counties with at least one active dental designation ; led by Bingham (6). Full list (designation count in parentheses): Bingham (6) , Latah (5) , Benewah (4) , Payette (4) , Ada (3) , Bear Lake (3) , Boundary (3) , Canyon (3) , Clearwater (3) , Custer (3) , Elmore (3) , Idaho (3) , Jerome (3) , Twin Falls (3) , Adams (2) , Bannock (2) , Bonner (2) , Butte (2) , Lemhi (2) , Lewis (2) ; plus 18 more in the table below.
Primary-care HPSA counties in Idaho
44 counties with at least one active primary-care designation ; led by Bingham (7). Full list: Bingham (7) , Latah (6) , Ada (4) , Benewah (4) , Payette (4) , Bannock (3) , Bear Lake (3) , Boundary (3) , Canyon (3) , Clearwater (3) , Custer (3) , Elmore (3) , Idaho (3) , Jerome (3) , Kootenai (3) , Teton (3) , Twin Falls (3) , Valley (3) , Adams (2) , Bonner (2) ; plus 24 more in the table below.
Mental-health HPSA counties in Idaho
44 counties with at least one active mental-health designation ; led by Bingham (8). Full list: Bingham (8) , Latah (6) , Ada (4) , Benewah (4) , Payette (4) , Bannock (3) , Bear Lake (3) , Boundary (3) , Canyon (3) , Clearwater (3) , Custer (3) , Elmore (3) , Idaho (3) , Jerome (3) , Teton (3) , Twin Falls (3) , Adams (2) , Bonner (2) , Butte (2) , Fremont (2) ; plus 24 more in the table below.
All counties in Idaho, by total shortage volume
The 40 counties with the most active HPSA designations, of 44 in Idaho. Columns split primary care, mental health, and dental.
| # | County | Designations | Primary Care | Mental Health | Dental | MUA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bingham | 21 | 7 | 8 | 6 | MUA |
| 2 | Latah | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | MUA |
| 3 | Benewah | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MUA |
| 4 | Payette | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MUA |
| 5 | Ada | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | MUA |
| 6 | Bear Lake | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | - |
| 7 | Boundary | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 8 | Canyon | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 9 | Clearwater | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 10 | Custer | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 11 | Elmore | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 12 | Idaho | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 13 | Jerome | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 14 | Twin Falls | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 15 | Bannock | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | MUA |
| 16 | Teton | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | MUA |
| 17 | Valley | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 18 | Adams | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 19 | Bonner | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 20 | Butte | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 21 | Kootenai | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 22 | Lemhi | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 23 | Lewis | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 24 | Minidoka | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 25 | Nez Perce | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 26 | Power | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 27 | Washington | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 28 | Fremont | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 29 | Gooding | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 30 | Oneida | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 31 | Shoshone | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 32 | Boise | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 33 | Bonneville | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | MUA |
| 34 | Caribou | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 35 | Cassia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 36 | Clark | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 37 | Franklin | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 38 | Gem | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | MUA |
| 39 | Lincoln | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 40 | Madison | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
Medically Underserved Areas in Idaho
Showing 30 of 50 MUA designations (lowest MUA Index first, i.e. most underserved).
| Name | MUA Index |
|---|---|
| Clark County | 44.4 |
| Glenns Ferry Service Area | 45.9 |
| Hunt Ccd | 48.0 |
| Swan Valley | 48.0 |
| Owyhee County | 49.2 |
| Boise County | 50.2 |
| LI-Lewis County | 52.0 |
| Butte County | 53.2 |
| Gem County | 53.8 |
| Washington County | 54.7 |
| Atomic City Service Area | 54.9 |
| Payette County | 54.9 |
| Garden City Service Area | 55.4 |
| Low Inc - East Valley | 55.5 |
| Low Inc - Madison County | 55.6 |
| Downey/ Lava Hotsprings Service Area | 55.8 |
| Caribou County | 56.2 |
| Low Inc - Nez Perce County | 56.3 |
| Oneida County MUA | 56.6 |
| Fort Hall Service Area | 56.9 |
| West Pocatello Service Area | 57.2 |
| Camas County | 58.0 |
| Tetonia Service Area | 58.1 |
| Custer County | 58.3 |
| Shoshone County | 58.7 |
| Aberdeen Service Area | 58.9 |
| Clark Fork Service Area | 59.2 |
| Hamer/ Roberts Service Area | 59.7 |
| Ada Service Area | 59.8 |
| Eastern Kootenai | 60.0 |
High-density reading for Idaho
At 253 active designations (104 primary care / 65 mental health / 84 dental), Idaho sits in the top quarter of the state and territory corpus by designations per resident. That volume is where NHSC placements, FQHC operating geography, and related federal instruments concentrate; eligibility still follows the designated area and provider type, not the state boundary alone.
Bingham County leads the in-state table with 21 active records; open that county profile before treating the state total as evenly spread. About 65.8% of residents live in a geographic shortage county; facility and population-group designations cover additional residents counted separately.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more Idaho shortage data
Dig deeper into the federal shortage designations behind Idaho's numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Medically Underserved Areas are in Idaho? ▼
Idaho has 50 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs). About 1,209,491 residents (65.8% of the state) live in a county with a geographic HRSA shortage designation. MUA-designated areas qualify for enhanced federal funding and Community Health Center grants.
Which counties in Idaho have dental HPSA designations? ▼
38 Idaho counties carry at least one active dental Health Professional Shortage Area in the current HRSA release: Bingham (6), Latah (5), Benewah (4), Payette (4), Ada (3), Bear Lake (3), Boundary (3), Canyon (3), Clearwater (3), Custer (3), Elmore (3), Idaho (3), Jerome (3), Twin Falls (3), Adams (2), Bannock (2), Bonner (2), Butte (2), Lemhi (2), Lewis (2); plus 18 more on the table below. Counts are designated dental HPSA records per county, not a dentist headcount.
Are there doctor shortages in Idaho? ▼
Yes. Idaho has 253 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including 104 in primary care, 65 in mental health, and 84 in dental care. About 65.8% of Idaho residents live in a county that HRSA has designated as a geographic (whole-community) shortage area; additional residents are covered by population-group and facility designations counted separately.
What are HPSAs? ▼
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are federal designations by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) identifying communities with insufficient healthcare providers. HPSAs are categorized into three types: primary care, mental health, and dental. In Idaho, there are 253 designated HPSAs and 50 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs).
What federal programs address healthcare shortages in Idaho? ▼
HRSA shortage designations in Idaho unlock eligibility for over 30 federal programs, including National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment and scholarships, Community Health Center (FQHC) funding, Medicare bonus payments (10% for physicians in HPSAs), J-1 visa waiver programs for international medical graduates, and Rural Health Clinic certification. These programs direct billions of dollars annually toward underserved communities.
How does Idaho compare to other states in HRSA shortage designations? ▼
Idaho has 253 total HPSA designations and 50 Medically Underserved Areas. With 65.8% of residents in counties carrying a geographic shortage designation, you can compare the recorded HRSA designations and scores with other states on our national rankings pages for primary care, mental health, and dental care.
How often is Idaho HPSA data updated? ▼
HRSA publishes HPSA designation changes through the Data Warehouse on a rolling basis. This page reports the portal's stated HRSA source vintage after a verified refresh; use HRSA's official tools when a current designation status matters.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse Not affiliated with HRSA
Choose the next comparison
Use Idaho's designation totals as a starting point, then move to the comparison that answers the next decision without treating a shortage designation as a personal care outcome.
- Compare Idaho's primary-care shortage record with every other state before drawing conclusions from a raw total; population and geography affect designation counts. Compare states
- Bingham County has the most active HPSA designations in this state profile. Open its county record to inspect the local primary-care, mental-health, and dental breakdown. Open county profile
- Use the national statistics reference for the source vintage, aggregate context, and methodology behind these state-level figures. Read national context
HRSA designations describe structural provider-shortage criteria and federal-program eligibility. They do not measure appointment availability, insurance coverage, care quality, or an individual patient’s access to care.
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 aggregates every county-level HPSA and MUA designation on record for Idaho (ID) and ranks the state's per-capita designation density among all states and territories. Designations describe federal shortage criteria, not appointment availability or care quality for any person. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, review the public data changelog, or report a data issue for this page. Data current as of 2026.