CA · Healthcare shortage profile
Contra Costa County, CA
Peak severity leads this reading: Contra Costa County's highest active HPSA score is 25.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 1,165,927.
- Active HPSAs
- 6
- Population
- 1,165,927
- Peak shortage score
- 25.0
- MUA Index
- 56.7
Mid-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Contra Costa County holds a moderate federal shortage burden - 6 active HPSA designations, more than 54% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 6
- Active HPSA designations
- 2
- Dental shortages
- 25
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 46%
- US counties by volume
Based on HRSA primary/mental/dental shortage severity, Medically Underserved Area status, and estimated unmet provider need -- not patient outcomes, insurance access, facility quality, or wait times.
Dense ZCTA lattice over Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County intersects 49 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
37 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 Contra Costa County, CA 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 25.0 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 Contra Costa County's 6 active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 2 primary care, 2 mental health, 2 dental (denominator 6).
Contra Costa County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
6 Top 46% higher than 54% 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. Contra Costa County falls in the lower half of CA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 50 of 58. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 06013. Population: 1,165,927.
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 6 active (designated) HPSAs in Contra Costa County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| County of Contra Costa | dental | 25.0 |
| Brighter Beginnings | dental | 25.0 |
| Brighter Beginnings | primary_care | 21.0 |
| County of Contra Costa | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Brighter Beginnings | mental_health | 12.0 |
| County of Contra Costa | mental_health | 10.0 |
Moderate-burden reading for Contra Costa County
Peak severity leads this reading: Contra Costa County's highest active HPSA score is 25.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Dental care carries Contra Costa County's deepest shortage reading, 25.0 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 21.0 of 25; Mental health reads 12.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 56.7, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Contra Costa County sits in the middle of the national designation-volume distribution (above 54% of counties) with 6 active records. That is enough for a formal shortage footprint without landing in the heaviest US tier. Compare the three discipline counts (2/2/2) before assuming every care category is equally short.
Contra Costa County falls in the lower half of CA counties by active-designation volume, at rank 50 of 58. For moderate counties, the useful move is usually a state peer check plus the score cards above, not a national superlative claim.
Contra Costa County designations by care type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the county, by provider category (high-priority disciplines emphasized).
- Primary care
Primary care
2 designations
- Dental
Dental
2 designations
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Contra Costa County, CA · 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 Contra Costa County's designations
Contra Costa County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Contra Costa County's 6 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 CA before you draw conclusions from a single score. CA 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.
Nearby dental score peers
Closest U.S. counties on active dental HPSA score to Contra Costa County's 25.0. Open Montgomery County, MD or Milwaukee County, WI next.
Showing 3 of 2744 counties nationally with an active designation this severe.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Contra Costa County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
- Yes - Contra Costa County carries an MUA designation (index 56.7; 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 Contra Costa County's peak score of 25.0?
- "County of Contra Costa" leads the active set (score 25.0; dental; 149,324 people in the service area; designated 10/21/2003). Clearing 17 opens NHSC high-priority placement for the matching provider type on the designated geography. Discipline mix across 6 active rows: 2 primary care, 2 mental health, 2 dental.
- Which other active designations sit under Contra Costa County's severity reading?
- After "County of Contra Costa", the next active names on this release are "County of Contra Costa" and "BRIGHTER BEGINNINGS". Provider need (id-de-duped) totals ~0 FTE across disciplines that still carry a gap.
- Which federal pathways follow Contra Costa County's high-severity geography?
- Contra Costa County's 6 active designations can open NHSC placement, CHC grants, Medicare bonus and J-1 waivers, eligibility follows the designated area and provider type, not merely the county line around "County of Contra Costa".
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 06013. 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 06013 (Contra Costa County, CA), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 6; peak score 25.0; signature peak score 25.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.