NJ · Healthcare shortage profile
Atlantic County, NJ
Peak severity leads this reading: Atlantic County's highest active HPSA score is 24.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 274,534.
- Active HPSAs
- 3
- Population
- 274,534
- Peak shortage score
- 24.0
- MUA Index
- 52.4
Light-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Atlantic County carries a comparatively light shortage burden - 3 active HPSA designations, more than 20% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 3
- Active HPSA designations
- 1
- Dental shortages
- 24
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 80%
- US counties by volume
Dense ZCTA lattice over Atlantic County
Atlantic County intersects 30 Census ZCTAs, above the 15-ZIP dense-tercile cut. Shortage designations still attach at the county (or smaller HPSA) grain; the ZIP list is geography, not a second severity score.
Largest land-share ZCTAs in this county
18 additional ZCTAs intersect this county in the crosswalk (ordered by land share).
Source: Census ZCTA–county relationship file joined to this portal's county FIPS set. As of 2026-08-15.
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for Atlantic County, NJ 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.
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Peak HPSA score 24.0 clears HRSA's 17-point high-priority line.
Scores at or above 17 on the 0–25/26 scales open NHSC placement priority for the matching provider type; eligibility still follows the designated area, not the county boundary alone.
-
33.3% of Atlantic County's 3 active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental (denominator 3).
Atlantic County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
3 Top 80% higher than 20% of 3,289 real US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more real 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
State peer position. Atlantic County falls in the lower half of NJ counties by active-designation volume, at rank 13 of 20. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 34001. Population: 274,534.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need. What counts as a high score?
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 3 active (designated) HPSAs in Atlantic County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanticare Health Services, Inc | dental | 24.0 |
| Atlanticare Health Services, Inc | mental_health | 22.0 |
| Atlanticare Health Services, Inc | primary_care | 10.0 |
Light-burden reading for Atlantic County
Peak severity leads this reading: Atlantic County's highest active HPSA score is 24.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Dental care carries Atlantic County's deepest shortage reading, 24.0 on HRSA's 0–26 dental scale, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 10.0 of 25; Mental health reads 22.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 52.4, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Atlantic County carries 3 active designations and sits below the national mid-pack (above 20% of counties). A light footprint still matters: a single high-score dental or mental-health record can open program geography even when the county total looks small next to heavy peers.
Atlantic County falls in the lower half of NJ counties by active-designation volume, at rank 13 of 20. Read the active scores and the deepest-care guide link below before collapsing this county into a "no shortage" story.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Atlantic County, NJ · 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.
Acting on Atlantic County's designations
Atlantic County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Atlantic County's 3 active designations make providers here eligible for National Health Service Corps loan repayment, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's primary care burden compares with the rest of NJ before you draw conclusions from a single score. NJ 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 lookup
HPSA scores describe shortage severity within HRSA's designation criteria, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; use HRSA's current tools to verify a designation.
Counties near Atlantic County's dental score of 24.0
One peer set for this severity-led county: nearest active dental HPSA score to 24.0 (severity lead on this page is “ATLANTICARE HEALTH SERVICES, INC”).
Camuy County, PR
24.0 dental score · 32,827 pop.
Aguas Buenas County, PR
24.0 dental score · 24,223 pop.
Arroyo County, PR
24.0 dental score · 15,843 pop.
Lafayette County, LA
24.0 dental score · 241,753 pop.
Matanuska-Susitna County, AK
24.0 dental score · 107,081 pop.
Gila County, AZ
24.0 dental score · 53,272 pop.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Atlantic County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
- Yes - Atlantic County carries an MUA designation (index 52.4; lower = greater measured need) in addition to its HPSA rows. MUA and HPSA are separate HRSA tracks; both can open different federal pathways.
- Which record sets Atlantic County's peak score of 24.0?
- "ATLANTICARE HEALTH SERVICES, INC" leads the active set (score 24.0; dental; 50,527 people in the service area; designated 09/30/2003). Clearing 17 opens NHSC high-priority placement for the matching provider type on the designated geography. Discipline mix across 3 active rows: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental.
- Which other active designations sit under Atlantic County's severity reading?
- After "ATLANTICARE HEALTH SERVICES, INC", the next active names on this release are "ATLANTICARE HEALTH SERVICES, INC", "ATLANTICARE HEALTH SERVICES, INC" and "ATLANTICARE HEALTH SERVICES, INC". Provider need (id-de-duped) totals ~0 FTE across disciplines that still carry a gap.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 34001. This county’s designations come from BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_PC.csv (primary care) , BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_MH.csv (mental health) and BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_DH.csv (dental) — download the normalized export on our open data page. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
HRSA Data Warehouse HPSA + MUA/P records for FIPS 34001 (Atlantic County, NJ), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 3; peak score 24.0; signature peak score 24.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.