HRSA Counties Indexed
56
with HPSA / MUA coverage
Medically underserved areas & HPSA profile
Medically Underserved Areas in Montana
55 Medically Underserved Areas and 330 active HRSA Health Professional Shortage Area designations across Montana.
- MUAs
- 55
- Total HPSAs
- 330
- Primary care
- 122
- Mental health
- 106
- Dental
- 102
Highest-density verdict
Current HRSA Data Warehouse records put Montana in the highest-density quarter of states and territories. It carries 330 active shortage designations across 56 counties; Lake County has the largest county count at 39. About 97.1% of residents live in a geographic shortage county.
- 330
- Active HPSA designations
- 122
- Primary-care shortages
- 55
- Medically underserved areas
- 97.1%
- Residents in a shortage county
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for Montana 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.
-
Lake County holds 11.8% of Montana's 330 active designations (39 of 330).
56 of 56 counties in this profile carry at least one active record; the remainder are zero-active on this release.
-
37% of Montana's active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from state aggregates: 122 primary care, 106 mental health, 102 dental (denominator 330).
-
Closing Montana's active designations would take about 109 additional clinician FTEs, led by primary care.
HRSA providers_needed summed once per HPSA id across the state: 47 primary care, 45 mental health, 17 dental. Federal gap estimate, not a practising-clinician headcount.
Corpus placement
Where Montana sits among all 56 states and territories
Montana carries 330 active HPSA designations for a population of 1,084,225, which is 30.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking it 2 of 56 and above 96% of states and territories, against a median of 7.3.
59 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 Montana changed from 315 to 330 (+15).
- IDs added
- 18
- IDs absent now
- 0
- Newly designated
- 1
- No longer designated
- 4
Among IDs present in both snapshots, scores rose for 3 and fell for 0; recorded providers needed rose for 2 and fell for 2. 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
55
Residents in Geographic Shortage Areas
1,053,091
% Residents in Geographic Shortage
97.1%
Discipline Mix
122 / 106 / 102 PC/MH/D
Primary care · Mental health · Dental
% Residents in Geographic Shortage-Designated Counties 97.1%
Montana Shortage Designations by Care Type
How Montana's 330 active HRSA designations split across the three provider categories. According to KFF's May 2026 tracker, Montana has adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. That policy context does not measure provider supply, appointment availability, or care quality.
Montana HPSA designations by type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
122 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
106 designations
- Dental
Dental
102 designations
Montana 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 Montana
39 counties with at least one active dental designation ; led by Lake (13). Full list (designation count in parentheses): Lake (13) , Big Horn (6) , Glacier (6) , Lincoln (5) , Sanders (5) , Hill (4) , Roosevelt (4) , Yellowstone (4) , Blaine (3) , Cascade (3) , Chouteau (3) , Madison (3) , Pondera (3) , Powell (3) , Rosebud (3) , Silver Bow (3) , Flathead (2) , Granite (2) , Lewis and Clark (2) , Liberty (2) ; plus 19 more in the table below.
Primary-care HPSA counties in Montana
53 counties with at least one active primary-care designation ; led by Lake (13). Full list: Lake (13) , Big Horn (6) , Glacier (6) , Lincoln (5) , Sanders (5) , Cascade (4) , Chouteau (4) , Hill (4) , Roosevelt (4) , Blaine (3) , Flathead (3) , Lewis and Clark (3) , Madison (3) , Park (3) , Pondera (3) , Powell (3) , Rosebud (3) , Silver Bow (3) , Yellowstone (3) , Daniels (2) ; plus 33 more in the table below.
Mental-health HPSA counties in Montana
54 counties with at least one active mental-health designation ; led by Lake (13). Full list: Lake (13) , Big Horn (6) , Glacier (6) , Lincoln (5) , Sanders (5) , Cascade (4) , Chouteau (4) , Hill (4) , Madison (4) , Roosevelt (4) , Yellowstone (4) , Blaine (3) , Flathead (3) , Lewis and Clark (3) , Park (3) , Pondera (3) , Powell (3) , Ravalli (3) , Rosebud (3) , Silver Bow (3) ; plus 34 more in the table below.
All counties in Montana, by total shortage volume
The 40 counties with the most active HPSA designations, of 56 in Montana. 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 | Lake | 39 | MUA |
| 2 | Big Horn | 18 | MUA |
| 3 | Glacier | 18 | MUA |
| 4 | Lincoln | 15 | MUA |
| 5 | Sanders | 15 | MUA |
| 6 | Hill | 12 | MUA |
| 7 | Roosevelt | 12 | MUA |
| 8 | Cascade | 11 | MUA |
| 9 | Chouteau | 11 | MUA |
| 10 | Yellowstone | 11 | MUA |
| 11 | Madison | 10 | MUA |
| 12 | Blaine | 9 | MUA |
| 13 | Pondera | 9 | MUA |
| 14 | Powell | 9 | MUA |
| 15 | Rosebud | 9 | MUA |
| 16 | Silver Bow | 9 | MUA |
| 17 | Flathead | 8 | MUA |
| 18 | Lewis and Clark | 8 | MUA |
| 19 | Park | 8 | MUA |
| 20 | Ravalli | 7 | MUA |
| 21 | Granite | 6 | MUA |
| 22 | Liberty | 6 | MUA |
| 23 | Teton | 6 | - |
| 24 | Toole | 6 | MUA |
| 25 | Wheatland | 6 | MUA |
| 26 | Daniels | 5 | MUA |
| 27 | Missoula | 5 | MUA |
| 28 | Prairie | 5 | - |
| 29 | Sheridan | 5 | MUA |
| 30 | Deer Lodge | 4 | MUA |
| 31 | Beaverhead | 3 | MUA |
| 32 | Fergus | 3 | MUA |
| 33 | Jefferson | 3 | - |
| 34 | Meagher | 3 | MUA |
| 35 | Musselshell | 3 | MUA |
| 36 | Phillips | 3 | MUA |
| 37 | Stillwater | 3 | - |
| 38 | Treasure | 3 | MUA |
| 39 | Broadwater | 2 | MUA |
| 40 | Carter | 2 | MUA |
Medically Underserved Areas in Montana
Showing 30 of 55 MUA designations (lowest MUA Index first, i.e. most underserved).
| Name | MUA Index |
|---|---|
| St. Ignatius Service Area | 0.0 |
| Polson Service Area | 0.0 |
| Big Fork-Swan River Service Area | 0.0 |
| Missoula Service Area | 0.0 |
| Toole Service Area | 0.0 |
| Low Inc - Hill County | 0.0 |
| Daniels County | 33.8 |
| Glacier Service Area | 43.6 |
| Roosevelt Service Area | 44.3 |
| Meagher Service Area | 45.2 |
| Big Horn Service Area | 45.7 |
| Blaine Service Area | 48.1 |
| Treasure Service Area | 48.2 |
| Hamilton Service Area | 48.5 |
| South Of The Yellowstone Service Area | 49.6 |
| Low Inc - Helena Service Area | 52.2 |
| Low Income-Deer Lodge County | 52.2 |
| Fergus County | 52.5 |
| Mccone County | 52.8 |
| Wheatland | 52.9 |
| Liberty Service Area | 53.2 |
| Sheridan Service Area | 53.3 |
| Inner City of Great Falls Service Area | 53.3 |
| Low Inc - Gallatin Community | 54.0 |
| Low Inc - Gallatin Service Area | 54.0 |
| Cascade Service Area | 54.1 |
| Valley Service Area | 54.2 |
| Sheridan County | 54.5 |
| Lewis and Clark Service Area | 55.0 |
| Big Hole Basin Service Area | 55.5 |
High-density reading for Montana
At 330 active designations (122 primary care / 106 mental health / 102 dental), Montana 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.
Lake County leads the in-state table with 39 active records; open that county profile before treating the state total as evenly spread. About 97.1% 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 Montana shortage data
Dig deeper into the federal shortage designations behind Montana's numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Medically Underserved Areas are in Montana? ▼
Montana has 55 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs). About 1,053,091 residents (97.1% 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 Montana have dental HPSA designations? ▼
39 Montana counties carry at least one active dental Health Professional Shortage Area in the current HRSA release: Lake (13), Big Horn (6), Glacier (6), Lincoln (5), Sanders (5), Hill (4), Roosevelt (4), Yellowstone (4), Blaine (3), Cascade (3), Chouteau (3), Madison (3), Pondera (3), Powell (3), Rosebud (3), Silver Bow (3), Flathead (2), Granite (2), Lewis and Clark (2), Liberty (2); plus 19 more on the table below. Counts are designated dental HPSA records per county, not a dentist headcount.
Are there doctor shortages in Montana? ▼
Yes. Montana has 330 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including 122 in primary care, 106 in mental health, and 102 in dental care. About 97.1% of Montana 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 Montana, there are 330 designated HPSAs and 55 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs).
What federal programs address healthcare shortages in Montana? ▼
HRSA shortage designations in Montana 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 Montana compare to other states in HRSA shortage designations? ▼
Montana has 330 total HPSA designations and 55 Medically Underserved Areas. With 97.1% 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 Montana 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 Montana'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 Montana's primary-care shortage record with every other state before drawing conclusions from a raw total; population and geography affect designation counts. Compare states
- Lake 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 Montana (MT) 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.