WI · Healthcare shortage profile
Dane County, WI
Peak severity leads this reading: Dane County's highest active HPSA score is 24.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 561,504.
- Active HPSAs
- 3
- Population
- 561,504
- Peak shortage score
- 24.0
- MUA Index
- MUA
Light-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Dane 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 Dane County
Dane County intersects 46 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
34 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 Dane County, WI 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.
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33.3% of Dane 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).
Dane 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. Dane County falls in the lower half of WI counties by active-designation volume, at rank 44 of 71. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 55025. Population: 561,504.
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 Dane County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Access Community Health Centers, Inc. | dental | 24.0 |
| Access Community Health Centers, Inc. | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Access Community Health Centers, Inc. | primary_care | 16.0 |
Light-burden reading for Dane County
Peak severity leads this reading: Dane County's highest active HPSA score is 24.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Dental care carries Dane 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 16.0 of 25; Mental health reads 17.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, a separate HRSA designation from the HPSA records above.
Dane 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.
Dane County falls in the lower half of WI counties by active-designation volume, at rank 44 of 71. 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 Dane County, WI · 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 Dane County's designations
Dane County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Dane 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 WI before you draw conclusions from a single score. WI 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 Dane 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 “Access Community Health Centers, Inc.”).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Dane County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
- Yes - Dane County carries an MUA designation in addition to its HPSA rows. MUA and HPSA are separate HRSA tracks; both can open different federal pathways.
- Which record sets Dane County's peak score of 24.0?
- "Access Community Health Centers, Inc." leads the active set (score 24.0; dental; 86,306 people in the service area; designated 12/04/2003). 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 Dane County's severity reading?
- After "Access Community Health Centers, Inc.", the next active names on this release are "Access Community Health Centers, Inc.", "Access Community Health Centers, Inc." and "Access Community Health Centers, Inc.". Provider need (id-de-duped) totals ~0 FTE across disciplines that still carry a gap.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 55025. 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 55025 (Dane County, WI), 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.