NE · Healthcare shortage profile
Custer County, NE
MUA standing opens this profile: Custer County sits inside a Medically Underserved Area indexed at 0.0 (lower index = greater measured need). Population 10,545.
- Active HPSAs
- 7
- Population
- 10,545
- Peak shortage score
- 17.0
- MUA Index
- 0.0
Heavy-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Custer County carries a heavier shortage burden than most US counties - 7 active HPSA designations, more than 70% of the 3,289 real US counties, with mental health the deepest gap.
- 7
- Active HPSA designations
- 3
- Mental-health shortages
- 17
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 30%
- US counties by volume
Dense ZCTA lattice over Custer County
Custer County intersects 21 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
9 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 Custer County, NE 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.
-
Peak HPSA score 17.0 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.
-
Closing Custer County's active designations would take about 5.1 additional clinician FTEs, with mental health the largest gap.
HRSA providers_needed summed once per HPSA id (no double-count across status rows): 5.1 mental health. This is the federal gap estimate, not a headcount of practising clinicians.
-
42.9% of Custer County's 7 active designations are mental health.
Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 2 primary care, 3 mental health, 2 dental (denominator 7).
Custer County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
7 Top 30% higher than 70% 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. Custer County falls in the upper quarter of NE counties by active-designation volume, at rank 16 of 92. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 31041. Population: 10,545.
Single high-priority discipline
Custer County's only high-priority (≥17) footprint is mental health
Current HRSA Data Warehouse rows attribute 3 active mental health designations to Custer County , with a peak score of 17.0. Other care categories may still be designated here, but none of them clear HRSA's high-priority score line of 17 on the current release, NHSC and related instruments concentrate on the mental health records.
Medically Underserved Area
Peak severity 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 7 active (designated) HPSAs in Custer County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Callaway Medical Clinic | mental_health | 17.0 |
| Arnold Medical Clinic | mental_health | 16.0 |
| Callaway Medical Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Arnold Medical Clinic | dental | 14.0 |
| Callaway Medical Clinic | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Arnold Medical Clinic | primary_care | 13.0 |
| Mental Health Catchment Area 3 | mental_health | 12.0 |
Heavy-burden reading for Custer County
MUA standing opens this profile: Custer County sits inside a Medically Underserved Area indexed at 0.0 (lower index = greater measured need). Custer County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 17.0 of 25, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 13.0 of 25; Dental care reads 14.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 0.0, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Volume places Custer County above 70% of real US counties (7 active designations: 2 primary care, 3 mental health, 2 dental). Peak severity on the current designated set is 17.0. The table on this page lists the highest-severity records first so a reader can see which named facilities, geographies, or population groups drive that burden without treating the county total as a personal appointment forecast.
Custer County falls in the upper quarter of NE counties by active-designation volume, at rank 16 of 92. Heavy-burden counties are where NHSC placement, Community Health Center grant geography, and related federal instruments concentrate; eligibility still follows the designated area and provider type, not the county boundary alone.
Acting on Custer County's high-priority mental health
Custer County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Custer County's high-priority mental health designations are where NHSC placement geography concentrates, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's mental health burden compares with the rest of NE before drawing conclusions from a single score. NE overview
- Check the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score against HRSA's designation thresholds. 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 With a Similar Mental Health Shortage Score
Other U.S. counties whose active HRSA mental-health HPSA score is closest to Custer County's 17.0. This compares the designation score only, not local appointment availability or care quality. Start with Thurston County, WA and Boone County, MO.
Showing 6 of 3081 counties nationally with an active designation this severe.
Score neighbours for Custer County's MUA-led profile
One peer set beside the MUA standing: nearest primary-care HPSA score (13.0 here).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Custer County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
- Yes - Custer County carries an MUA designation (index 0.0; lower = greater measured need) in addition to its HPSA rows. MUA and HPSA are separate HRSA tracks; both can open different federal pathways.
- How do Custer County's HPSA rows sit beside the MUA?
- 7 active HPSA designations (2 primary care / 3 mental health / 2 dental); highest-scored active name is "CALLAWAY MEDICAL CLINIC" (score 17.0; mental health; 12,919 people in the service area; designated 09/18/2020). MUA and HPSA are separate tracks, one does not substitute for the other.
- What does the 17.0 HPSA score mean next to the MUA?
- 17.0 clears the 17-point high-priority HPSA line. MUA index 0.0 remains a separate need measure.
- Which programs can Custer County's dual standing open?
- Active HPSA geography can open NHSC/CHC/Medicare-bonus/J-1 routes by provider type; MUA standing can open additional underserved-area pathways. Eligibility is record-specific, read the designated area, not the county boundary alone.
- How does Custer County compare across NE?
- 7 active HPSA rows, peak 17.0. Custer County falls in the upper quarter of NE counties by active-designation volume, at rank 16 of 92. Score-nearest counties on this release include Thurston County, WA and Boone County, MO.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 31041. 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 31041 (Custer County, NE), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 7; peak score 17.0; signature MUA index 0.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.