HRSA Counties Indexed
55
with HPSA / MUA coverage
Medically underserved areas & HPSA profile
Medically Underserved Areas in West Virginia
62 Medically Underserved Areas and 361 active HRSA Health Professional Shortage Area designations across West Virginia.
- MUAs
- 62
- Total HPSAs
- 361
- Primary care
- 123
- Mental health
- 119
- Dental
- 119
Highest-density verdict
Current HRSA Data Warehouse records put West Virginia in the highest-density quarter of states and territories. It carries 361 active shortage designations across 55 counties; McDowell County has the largest county count at 21. About 20.6% of residents live in a geographic shortage county.
- 361
- Active HPSA designations
- 123
- Primary-care shortages
- 62
- Medically underserved areas
- 20.6%
- Residents in a shortage county
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for West Virginia 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.
-
McDowell County holds 5.8% of West Virginia's 361 active designations (21 of 361).
55 of 55 counties in this profile carry at least one active record; the remainder are zero-active on this release.
-
34.1% of West Virginia's active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from state aggregates: 123 primary care, 119 mental health, 119 dental (denominator 361).
-
Closing West Virginia's active designations would take about 369 additional clinician FTEs, led by primary care.
HRSA providers_needed summed once per HPSA id across the state: 147 primary care, 91 mental health, 130 dental. Federal gap estimate, not a practising-clinician headcount.
Corpus placement
Where West Virginia sits among all 56 states and territories
West Virginia carries 361 active HPSA designations for a population of 1,793,716, which is 20.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking it 5 of 56 and above 91% of states and territories, against a median of 7.3.
19 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 West Virginia changed from 361 to 361 (0).
- IDs added
- 0
- IDs absent now
- 0
- Newly designated
- 0
- No longer designated
- 0
Among IDs present in both snapshots, scores rose for 3 and fell for 2; recorded providers needed rose for 0 and fell for 0. 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
62
Residents in Geographic Shortage Areas
369,804
% Residents in Geographic Shortage
20.6%
Discipline Mix
123 / 119 / 119 PC/MH/D
Primary care · Mental health · Dental
% Residents in Geographic Shortage-Designated Counties 20.6%
West Virginia Shortage Designations by Care Type
How West Virginia's 361 active HRSA designations split across the three provider categories. According to KFF's May 2026 tracker, West Virginia has adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. That policy context does not measure provider supply, appointment availability, or care quality.
West Virginia HPSA designations by type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
123 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
119 designations
- Dental
Dental
119 designations
West Virginia 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 West Virginia
54 counties with at least one active dental designation ; led by McDowell (7). Full list (designation count in parentheses): McDowell (7) , Roane (6) , Boone (5) , Logan (5) , Mingo (4) , Upshur (4) , Wyoming (4) , Greenbrier (3) , Monongalia (3) , Monroe (3) , Morgan (3) , Raleigh (3) , Taylor (3) , Tyler (3) , Barbour (2) , Berkeley (2) , Cabell (2) , Calhoun (2) , Fayette (2) , Gilmer (2) ; plus 34 more in the table below.
Primary-care HPSA counties in West Virginia
55 counties with at least one active primary-care designation ; led by McDowell (7). Full list: McDowell (7) , Roane (6) , Boone (5) , Logan (5) , Mingo (4) , Upshur (4) , Wyoming (4) , Fayette (3) , Greenbrier (3) , Monongalia (3) , Monroe (3) , Morgan (3) , Raleigh (3) , Randolph (3) , Taylor (3) , Tyler (3) , Barbour (2) , Berkeley (2) , Cabell (2) , Calhoun (2) ; plus 35 more in the table below.
Mental-health HPSA counties in West Virginia
55 counties with at least one active mental-health designation ; led by McDowell (7). Full list: McDowell (7) , Roane (6) , Boone (5) , Logan (5) , Mingo (4) , Upshur (4) , Wyoming (4) , Greenbrier (3) , Monongalia (3) , Monroe (3) , Morgan (3) , Raleigh (3) , Randolph (3) , Taylor (3) , Tyler (3) , Barbour (2) , Berkeley (2) , Cabell (2) , Calhoun (2) , Fayette (2) ; plus 35 more in the table below.
All counties in West Virginia, by total shortage volume
The 40 counties with the most active HPSA designations, of 55 in West Virginia. Columns split primary care, mental health, and dental.
| # | County | Designations | Primary Care | Mental Health | Dental | MUA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McDowell | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | MUA |
| 2 | Roane | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | MUA |
| 3 | Boone | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | MUA |
| 4 | Logan | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | MUA |
| 5 | Mingo | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MUA |
| 6 | Upshur | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MUA |
| 7 | Wyoming | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MUA |
| 8 | Greenbrier | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 9 | Monongalia | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 10 | Monroe | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 11 | Morgan | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 12 | Raleigh | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 13 | Taylor | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 14 | Tyler | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 15 | Randolph | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | MUA |
| 16 | Fayette | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 17 | Barbour | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 18 | Berkeley | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 19 | Cabell | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 20 | Calhoun | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 21 | Gilmer | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 22 | Hampshire | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 23 | Hancock | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 24 | Hardy | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 25 | Jackson | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 26 | Kanawha | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 27 | Lincoln | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 28 | Marion | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 29 | Mercer | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 30 | Pendleton | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 31 | Pleasants | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 32 | Preston | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 33 | Ritchie | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 34 | Summers | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 35 | Tucker | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 36 | Webster | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 37 | Wirt | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 38 | Mason | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 39 | Lewis | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 40 | Marshall | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
Medically Underserved Areas in West Virginia
Showing 30 of 62 MUA designations (lowest MUA Index first, i.e. most underserved).
| Name | MUA Index |
|---|---|
| Williamsburg District - County | 0.0 |
| Falling Springs District - County | 0.0 |
| Anthony Creek District - County | 0.0 |
| Clendenin Service Area | 0.0 |
| Lewis Service Area | 33.9 |
| Lincoln Service Area | 39.4 |
| Preston Service Area | 45.1 |
| Mason Service Area | 45.7 |
| Summers County | 46.4 |
| Jefferson Service Area | 47.4 |
| Putnam Service Area | 48.7 |
| West Cabell County | 48.9 |
| Kanawha Service Area | 49.2 |
| Hardy Service Area | 49.9 |
| Wayne Service Area | 50.1 |
| Upshur Service Area | 51.2 |
| Hampshire County | 52.0 |
| Ohio Service Area | 52.3 |
| Cabell Service Area | 53.1 |
| Taylor Service Area | 53.2 |
| Grant District | 53.8 |
| Calhoun Service Area | 55.0 |
| Low Inc - Mercer County | 55.3 |
| Nicholas Service Area | 55.6 |
| West Augusta Service Area | 55.7 |
| Clear Fork District | 56.6 |
| Kanawha Service Area | 56.7 |
| McDowell | 56.8 |
| Logan Service Area | 57.0 |
| Low Income - Wetzel County | 57.1 |
High-density reading for West Virginia
At 361 active designations (123 primary care / 119 mental health / 119 dental), West Virginia 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.
McDowell County leads the in-state table with 21 active records; open that county profile before treating the state total as evenly spread. About 20.6% 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 West Virginia shortage data
Dig deeper into the federal shortage designations behind West Virginia's numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Medically Underserved Areas are in West Virginia? ▼
West Virginia has 62 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs). About 369,804 residents (20.6% 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 West Virginia have dental HPSA designations? ▼
54 West Virginia counties carry at least one active dental Health Professional Shortage Area in the current HRSA release: McDowell (7), Roane (6), Boone (5), Logan (5), Mingo (4), Upshur (4), Wyoming (4), Greenbrier (3), Monongalia (3), Monroe (3), Morgan (3), Raleigh (3), Taylor (3), Tyler (3), Barbour (2), Berkeley (2), Cabell (2), Calhoun (2), Fayette (2), Gilmer (2); plus 34 more on the table below. Counts are designated dental HPSA records per county, not a dentist headcount.
Are there doctor shortages in West Virginia? ▼
Yes. West Virginia has 361 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including 123 in primary care, 119 in mental health, and 119 in dental care. About 20.6% of West Virginia 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 West Virginia, there are 361 designated HPSAs and 62 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs).
What federal programs address healthcare shortages in West Virginia? ▼
HRSA shortage designations in West Virginia 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 West Virginia compare to other states in HRSA shortage designations? ▼
West Virginia has 361 total HPSA designations and 62 Medically Underserved Areas. With 20.6% 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia'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 West Virginia's primary-care shortage record with every other state before drawing conclusions from a raw total; population and geography affect designation counts. Compare states
- McDowell 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 West Virginia (WV) 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.