HPSA Re-designation Process
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is working through a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) re-designation process. As of April 2021, HRSA announced a large number of HPSAs as “proposed for withdrawal”, meaning that these HPSAs could lose their status. On or around July 1, 2022, HRSA must publish an updated list of HPSAs in the Federal Register, which means those proposed for withdrawal will learn whether or not they will retain their designation.
In March of this year, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) wrote to HRSA expressing concern about the HPSAs proposed for withdrawal and requested that HPSAs have adequate time to apply for redetermination and retain their status before the July 1, 2022 deadline. NRHA is now elevating these concerns to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the July 1 deadline grows closer and HPSAs are in danger of losing their designation.
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Shortage Designations
The Division of Social Epidemiology, through the Virginia Primary Care Office, develops reviews and submits applications for federally designated shortage areas. A large and diverse number of state and federal programs reference these shortage areas to determine eligibility, the amount of awards, and for other purposes. There are several types of shortage areas, covering different specialties, and targeting different constituents.
Shortage Area Types:
- Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
- Medically Under-served Areas/Populations (MUA/P)
- Governor Designation
Shortage Area Specialties:
- Primary Care
- Dental Health
- Mental Health
Shortage Area Targets:
- Geographic Areas
- Populations
- Facilities
Examples of Programs that reference shortage areas:
- Medicare Bonus Payment Program
- National Health Service Corps
- Virginia State Loan Repayment
- J-1 Visa Program
- NURSE Corps
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Rural Health Clinics
For more information about Virginia’s shortage areas contact Anna Riggan at anna.riggan@vdh.virginia.gov.