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Shortage Area DesignationShortage designation is the primary means by which a community can communicate health care needs to the state government, the federal government, and some private foundations who make grants to communities for the development of health care service capacity. There are two broad categories of shortage designation, each serving a different purpose. Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) tend to describe the needs of the community in terms of the numbers of providers available to the population or a subset of the population. Medically Underserved Areas (MUA/MUP) tend to describe the health status and health needs of a population or subset of the population. Once an area or population group has been designated, the benefits of that designation are available to anyone in the area. Nearly all Colorado counties have some part of the county designated as a shortage or underserved area. Some counties have few or no doctors, dentists, or mental health providers. Also, people without health insurance, with low incomes, or with language barriers may experience added difficulty accessing health services, even in areas where health care providers are more available generally. The Colorado Rural Health Center and the Colorado Health Institute have additional data available on the health services capacity needs of Colorado. To receive a federal shortage designation of any kind, an application describing how an area or facility meets federal shortage criteria is required. A shortage application is typically prepared at the local level, in consultation with the state Primary Care Office, and then submitted to the federal Shortage Designation Branch for approval. The complete application and approval process typically takes from three to nine months. Because of the length of time required to complete a designation, communities are well advised to begin the application process as soon as a health provider shortage is recognized. Step 1: Is your community already designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area or Medically Underserved Area? Step 2: Review the one page shortage designation overview or the Community Application Guide to get a sense of what is required. Step 3: Contact the Primary Care Office at 303-692-2298. The Office can:
Step 4: Collect provider survey data in consultation with the Primary Care Office. Step 5: Submit the survey data and rationale for the service area to the Primary Care Office for review and analysis. The Primary Care Office will further develop your application and submit it to the federal Shortage Designation Branch at the Health Resources and Service Administration.
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