Missouri's Shortage Areas

Shortage designations are used to improve access to primary care, dental, and mental health providers.

​There are several types of shortage designations:

• Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) identify geographic areas, populations groups, or facilities within the United States that are experiencing a shortage of health care professionals. 
  
  
• Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) identify geographic areas and populations with a lack of access to primary care services.
  
  
• Exceptional Medically Underserved Population (Exceptional MUP) identify a specific population subset that does not meet the established criteria to qualify as a Medically Underserved Population, but due to unusual circumstance do not have access to primary care services.
  
  
• Governor’s Designated Secretary Certified Shortage Areas for Rural Health Clinics are areas that a state Governor or designee designates as having a shortage according to the state-established shortage plan for the establishment of a Rural Health Clinic.

Source: HRSA Health Workforce