Whether it is the growing paucity of primary care providers, inequitable allocation of health care resources, or the unfortunate realities of poverty, it is undeniable that many areas and populations of the United States succumb to medical underservice. Furthermore, areas that currently have an ample supply of health care resources tend to attract more, subsequently leaving provider shortage areas – and, moreover, undeserved people – in peril. It is, indeed, well known that socioeconomic and demographic disparities plague our state and compromise our potential as a people. To correct the preceding inequities and to advance our state’s quality of life and productivity, the state and federal government have taken important steps to ensure all residents the right to essential health care services.
A crucial technique that has been employed to correct the aforementioned issues of access centers on redistributing the supply of primary care, dental health, and mental health professionals to areas with the highest need. There are two types of designations that achieve this purpose: Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/Ps). These designations, in conjunction with Michigan’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), are paramount to strengthening the health care safety net and securing a healthier and happier Michigan future.
All designations are explored through a non-competitive application process through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In other words, any interested stakeholder or group of stakeholders may nominate an area, population, or facility for a shortage designation. Moreover, any entity located within a designated area can use the benefits that the respective designation affords. At the same time, MPCA utilizes an objective 3-variable prioritization process to determine which areas deserve first attention in the pursuit of a designation.
Directly following this paragraph includes a brief overview of the designation types, the MPCA prioritization process, and the federal benefits afforded to communities by designation type. You may click each header to find out more specific information.
Please email or call Jon Villasurda, Health Assessment Program Specialist, at (517) 381-8000 x226, with any designation inquiries.
Health Professional Shortage Area designations are determined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to have either a primary care, dental health, and/or mental health care shortage of professionals. These designations afford Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and other entities the ability to recruit physicians from the National Health Service Corps, hire physicians holding a J-1 visa, and improve the score of their FQHC grant application. Please click on the header for more information.
A Medically Underserved Area or Population is typically the precursor for the FQHC grant and the subsequent ability to establish a FQHC in a given area. However, if an organization currently serves a sufficiently underserved area or population and plans to move into an area with high need, then a designation may not be required. MUAs also provide rural clinics the eligibility needed for certification as a Rural Health Clinic (RHC) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Please click on the header for more information.
There are instances when an area or population may not meet the traditional criteria needed to qualify for one of the preceding designations. As a result, the government has provided two exceptional designations, which include the following: 1) the Governor’s Exceptional MUP designation; and 2) Governor’s Certified Areas for RHCs. These requests must include a written recommendation for designation from the Governor or other chief executive officer of the State and local health official. Please click on the header for more information.
Due to the large volume of designation inquiries, MPCA has created a new methodology for prioritizing designation efforts. This process is comprised of 3-variables and achieves the goal of objectively determining areas of highest need. It uses the federal Index of Medical Underservice, a community involvement factor, and data from the recent County Health Rankings study published by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Please click on the header to see a table of the methodology.
Please click on the header for a convenient table that documents the relationship of the various designation types to the programs that require them.
- Click here to determine if your community/facility is designated as a HPSA
- Click here to determine if your community is designated as a MUA/P
- Click here to determine a census tract for a particular address
- Click here for a broad overview of shortage designations from HRSA
- Click here for the State Office of Shortage Designations
Please email or call Jon Villasurda,
Health Assessment Program Specialist, at (517) 381-8000 x226, with any
designation inquiries.