On 1/2/2024, HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce published a Federal Register Notice which included a current list of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) – which can be geographic areas, populations, or facilities – that have a shortage of primary, dental, or mental health care providers.  The designations are used to determine eligibility for federal programs that support the health workforce, such as the National Health Service Corps, as well as safety net programs such as HRSA’s Health Centers and CMS’s Rural Health Clinics. The list includes information on designations that were proposed for withdrawal as of November 15, 2023, designations that have been withdrawn since that date, as well as information on designations that are currently active.

Ashley Wallace and Britney Nasseri from KDHE's Office of Primary Care and Rural Health will discuss the latest changes to Kansas HPSA designations, what their office is doing in response to these changes and how the changes may impact Kansas health care organizations.