HRSA Counties Indexed
85
with HPSA / MUA coverage
Medically underserved areas & HPSA profile
Medically Underserved Areas in Minnesota
110 Medically Underserved Areas and 533 active HRSA Health Professional Shortage Area designations across Minnesota.
- MUAs
- 110
- Total HPSAs
- 533
- Primary care
- 199
- Mental health
- 141
- Dental
- 193
Upper-middle density verdict
Within HRSA's current state and territory corpus, Minnesota occupies the upper-middle density quarter. The Data Warehouse counts 533 active shortage designations across 85 counties; Hennepin County has the largest county count at 49; about 43.6% of residents live in a geographic shortage county.
- 533
- Active HPSA designations
- 199
- Primary-care shortages
- 110
- Medically underserved areas
- 43.6%
- Residents in a shortage county
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for Minnesota on its own pages , computed from the retained designation mirror as of 2026-08-15. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.
-
Closing Minnesota's active designations would take about 444 additional clinician FTEs, led by primary care.
HRSA providers_needed summed once per HPSA id across the state: 207 primary care, 102 mental health, 135 dental. Federal gap estimate, not a practising-clinician headcount.
-
37.3% of Minnesota's active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from state aggregates: 199 primary care, 141 mental health, 193 dental (denominator 533).
-
Hennepin County holds 9.2% of Minnesota's 533 active designations (49 of 533).
82 of 85 counties in this profile carry at least one active record; the remainder are zero-active on this release.
HRSA state registry desk
Minnesota designation file stamps
- HPSA-VOL
- 533
- MUA-COUNT
- 110
- PC/MH/DH
- 199/141/193
- RANK
- 22/56
- DENSITY
- MID-HIGH
- BOOK
- 85 counties
Lead discipline: primary-care. Photo-finish peer: Louisiana (523HPSAs).
Corpus placement
Where Minnesota sits among all 56 states and territories
Minnesota's 533 active HPSA designations across 5,159,690 residents work out to 10.3 per 100,000, good for rank 22 of 56, ahead of the 7.3 national median and 61% of the corpus.
94 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 Minnesota changed from 476 to 533 (+57).
- IDs added
- 54
- IDs absent now
- 0
- Newly designated
- 9
- No longer designated
- 6
Among IDs present in both snapshots, scores rose for 11 and fell for 11; recorded providers needed rose for 9 and fell for 16. 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
110
Residents in Geographic Shortage Areas
2,251,523
% Residents in Geographic Shortage
43.6%
Discipline Mix
199 / 141 / 193 PC/MH/D
Primary care · Mental health · Dental
% Residents in Geographic Shortage-Designated Counties 43.6%
Minnesota Shortage Designations by Care Type
How Minnesota's 533 active HRSA designations split across the three provider categories. According to KFF's May 2026 tracker, Minnesota has adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. That policy context does not measure provider supply, appointment availability, or care quality.
Minnesota HPSA designations by type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
199 designations
- Dental
Dental
193 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
141 designations
Minnesota 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 Minnesota
73 counties with at least one active dental designation ; led by Hennepin (17). Full list (designation count in parentheses): Hennepin (17) , Beltrami (9) , St. Louis (9) , Ramsey (8) , Cass (6) , Todd (6) , Mille Lacs (5) , Stearns (5) , Becker (4) , Clay (4) , Lac qui Parle (4) , Mahnomen (4) , Olmsted (4) , Otter Tail (4) , Polk (4) , Wadena (4) , Anoka (3) , Clearwater (3) , Cook (3) , Cottonwood (3) ; plus 53 more in the table below.
Primary-care HPSA counties in Minnesota
76 counties with at least one active primary-care designation ; led by Hennepin (16). Full list: Hennepin (16) , Beltrami (10) , St. Louis (9) , Otter Tail (7) , Cass (6) , Mille Lacs (6) , Stearns (6) , Todd (6) , Ramsey (5) , Becker (4) , Clay (4) , Itasca (4) , Lac qui Parle (4) , Mahnomen (4) , Morrison (4) , Redwood (4) , Sibley (4) , Wadena (4) , Aitkin (3) , Clearwater (3) ; plus 56 more in the table below.
Mental-health HPSA counties in Minnesota
80 counties with at least one active mental-health designation ; led by Hennepin (16). Full list: Hennepin (16) , Beltrami (9) , Cass (7) , St. Louis (7) , Todd (6) , Mille Lacs (5) , Ramsey (5) , Stearns (5) , Becker (4) , Lac qui Parle (4) , Mahnomen (4) , Nicollet (4) , Otter Tail (4) , Sibley (4) , Wadena (4) , Carlton (3) , Clay (3) , Clearwater (3) , Cook (3) , Cottonwood (3) ; plus 60 more in the table below.
All counties in Minnesota, by total shortage volume
The 40 counties with the most active HPSA designations, of 85 in Minnesota. Columns split primary care, mental health, and dental. On a narrow screen, this list keeps each county’s total and MUA status visible; the care-type split is available on wider screens.
| # | County | Designations | MUA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hennepin | 49 | MUA |
| 2 | Beltrami | 28 | MUA |
| 3 | St. Louis | 25 | MUA |
| 4 | Cass | 19 | MUA |
| 5 | Ramsey | 18 | MUA |
| 6 | Todd | 18 | MUA |
| 7 | Mille Lacs | 16 | MUA |
| 8 | Stearns | 16 | MUA |
| 9 | Otter Tail | 15 | MUA |
| 10 | Becker | 12 | MUA |
| 11 | Lac qui Parle | 12 | MUA |
| 12 | Mahnomen | 12 | MUA |
| 13 | Wadena | 12 | MUA |
| 14 | Clay | 11 | MUA |
| 15 | Sibley | 11 | MUA |
| 16 | Itasca | 10 | MUA |
| 17 | Morrison | 10 | MUA |
| 18 | Redwood | 10 | MUA |
| 19 | Clearwater | 9 | MUA |
| 20 | Cottonwood | 9 | MUA |
| 21 | Jackson | 9 | MUA |
| 22 | Kittson | 9 | MUA |
| 23 | Koochiching | 9 | MUA |
| 24 | Norman | 9 | MUA |
| 25 | Pine | 9 | MUA |
| 26 | Swift | 9 | MUA |
| 27 | Yellow Medicine | 9 | MUA |
| 28 | Cook | 8 | MUA |
| 29 | Aitkin | 7 | MUA |
| 30 | Anoka | 7 | - |
| 31 | Carlton | 7 | MUA |
| 32 | Lyon | 7 | MUA |
| 33 | Big Stone | 6 | MUA |
| 34 | Blue Earth | 6 | MUA |
| 35 | Chippewa | 6 | - |
| 36 | Crow Wing | 6 | - |
| 37 | Murray | 6 | MUA |
| 38 | Olmsted | 6 | - |
| 39 | Polk | 6 | MUA |
| 40 | Red Lake | 6 | MUA |
Medically Underserved Areas in Minnesota
Showing 30 of 110 MUA designations (lowest MUA Index first, i.e. most underserved).
| Name | MUA Index |
|---|---|
| St. Mary Service Area | 0.0 |
| Low Inc - Blue Earth/ Mankato | 0.0 |
| Fairfax Village - County | 44.9 |
| Scandia Valley Service Area | 45.1 |
| Balaton Village - County | 45.7 |
| Onamia Service Area | 46.2 |
| Native American Pop - St. Paul | 46.5 |
| Southside Minneapolis Service Area | 47.1 |
| Pilot City Service Area | 47.3 |
| Hennepin Service Area | 48.5 |
| Tracy City Service Area | 48.9 |
| Cedar/Riverside Service Area | 49.0 |
| Ellsworth Village - County | 49.6 |
| East Side Township Service Area | 50.0 |
| St. Loius Service Area | 50.3 |
| Clinton/ Graceville Service Area | 50.3 |
| Lindstrom Village - County | 50.4 |
| White Earth Service Area | 50.8 |
| Ivanhoe/Hendricks | 50.8 |
| Cass Service Area | 50.9 |
| Aitkin Service Area | 51.1 |
| Red Lake Service Area | 51.6 |
| Moose Lake Service Area | 51.7 |
| Moose Lake City - County | 51.7 |
| Low Income - Lake of the Woods County | 51.8 |
| Low Income-Ely Rational Service Area#110 | 51.9 |
| Morton Village - County | 52.4 |
| Elgin Service Area | 52.8 |
| Ramsey Service Area | 52.9 |
| Low Income - Pope | 53.0 |
Upper-middle density reading for Minnesota
Minnesota carries 533 active HPSA designations with 110 Medically Underserved Areas, enough for a formal shortage footprint without landing in the densest US tier. Compare the three discipline counts (199/141/193) before assuming every care category is equally short.
Geographic shortage counties cover about 43.6% of residents. That coverage signal routes federal recruitment dollars; it is not a service-denial verdict for any one household.
Nationwide states with similar HRSA shortage footprints
Two peer sets for Minnesota: total active HPSA designations and Medically Underserved Area counts, ranked against every other state and territory.
Similar designation volume
Nearest total HPSA count (533 active here).
Similar MUA inventory
Nearest MUA count (110 here).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Medically Underserved Areas are in Minnesota? ▼
Minnesota has 110 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs). About 2,251,523 residents (43.6% 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 Minnesota have dental HPSA designations? ▼
73 Minnesota counties carry at least one active dental Health Professional Shortage Area in the current HRSA release: Hennepin (17), Beltrami (9), St. Louis (9), Ramsey (8), Cass (6), Todd (6), Mille Lacs (5), Stearns (5), Becker (4), Clay (4), Lac qui Parle (4), Mahnomen (4), Olmsted (4), Otter Tail (4), Polk (4), Wadena (4), Anoka (3), Clearwater (3), Cook (3), Cottonwood (3); plus 53 more on the table below. Counts are designated dental HPSA records per county, not a dentist headcount.
Are there doctor shortages in Minnesota? ▼
Yes. Minnesota has 533 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including 199 in primary care, 141 in mental health, and 193 in dental care. About 43.6% of Minnesota 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 Minnesota, there are 533 designated HPSAs and 110 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs).
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse Not affiliated with HRSA
Choose the next comparison
Use Minnesota'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 Minnesota's primary-care shortage record with every other state before drawing conclusions from a raw total; population and geography affect designation counts. Compare states
- Hennepin 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 Minnesota (MN) 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.