California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development

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Healthcare Workforce Development Division

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA

Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are based on the evaluation of criteria established through federal regulation to identify geographic areas or population groups with a shortage of Dental providers.

Definition of Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (MHPSA)

The federal HPSA designation (formerly Health Manpower Shortage Areas) identifies areas as having a shortage of mental health providers on the basis of availability of psychiatrist and mental health professionals.

Criteria: To qualify for designation as a MHPSA, an area must be:

1. A rational service area;
2. The population-to-core mental health professional and/or the population-to-psychiatrist ratio meet established shortage criteria; and
3. A lack of access to mental health care in surrounding areas because of excessive distance, overutilization, or access barriers,

Benefits of designation as a MHPSA include:

• Eligibility for the National Health Services Corp/State Loan Repayment Program;
• Improved Medicare reimbursement; and
• Enhanced federal grant eligibility.

Return to Shortage Designation Program