Designations
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A Division of P. M. Talbot Enterprises
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Patricia Talbot, RN, CNM, BHSA, will research your location's designation, area's eligibility and facility's requirements. She has the expertise in physician/provider surveying and designation applications. > Medical Underserved Area (MUA) > Medically Underserved Population (MUP) > Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) - Medical/Dental/Mental Health HPSA - > National Health Service Corps Site > Rural Designations - Federal & State (Research) > California Medically Service Study Area (MSSA) Re-alignment |
Medical Underserved Area (MUA) or Population (MUP): Measures the degree of underservice of an area (MUA) or population (MUP). Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) must be located in a MUA or MUP. FQHC Look-Alike applicants do not have to be located in a MUA but must serve in whole or in part either an MUA or MUP. J-I Visa Waiver may be obtained when working in a MUA or MUP designated 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 primary care, dental or mental health providers. The Health Care Safety Net Amendments 2002 provides an "Automatic Facility HPSA" designation for a facility only. HPSA designation provides access to obtain National Health Services Corps primary care providers and J-I Visa waived physicians. HPSA is required for Rural Health Clinics (RHC 95-210). Medicare makes available 10% bonus payments to Medicare fee-for-service physicians caring for patients who live in a geographic HPSA designated area.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Designated Site: A health care facility may be eligible to become an NHSC-approved site if it is located in a geographic HPSA or has been assigned a facility HPSA. The facility must provide its services to patients regardless of their ability to pay, offer discounted fees to those who qualify and accept Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. The NHSC will assist their sites in attracting and retaining qualified primary care providers.
Rural Designations: The federal government and states have different definitions of what is rural and is dependent on different types of designations and funding. An area may be deemed urban for Medicare payment but be designated rural for funding. It takes a bit of research to identify the status of any given area.
Medical Service Study Areas (MSSAs) in California are sub-city and sub-county geographical units used to organize and display population, demographic and physician data. MSSAs were developed in 1976 by the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission (formerly California Health Manpower Policy Commission) to respond to legislative mandates requiring it to determine "areas of unmet priority need for primary care family physicians "MSSAs are recognized by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions' Office of Shortage Designation as rational service areas for purposes of designating HPSAs, and MUAs/MUPs. MSSA boundaries may be re-aligned after the completion of the ten year census or when requested.
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 primary care, dental or mental health providers. The Health Care Safety Net Amendments 2002 provides an "Automatic Facility HPSA" designation for a facility only. HPSA designation provides access to obtain National Health Services Corps primary care providers and J-I Visa waived physicians. HPSA is required for Rural Health Clinics (RHC 95-210). Medicare makes available 10% bonus payments to Medicare fee-for-service physicians caring for patients who live in a geographic HPSA designated area.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Designated Site: A health care facility may be eligible to become an NHSC-approved site if it is located in a geographic HPSA or has been assigned a facility HPSA. The facility must provide its services to patients regardless of their ability to pay, offer discounted fees to those who qualify and accept Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. The NHSC will assist their sites in attracting and retaining qualified primary care providers.
Rural Designations: The federal government and states have different definitions of what is rural and is dependent on different types of designations and funding. An area may be deemed urban for Medicare payment but be designated rural for funding. It takes a bit of research to identify the status of any given area.
Medical Service Study Areas (MSSAs) in California are sub-city and sub-county geographical units used to organize and display population, demographic and physician data. MSSAs were developed in 1976 by the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission (formerly California Health Manpower Policy Commission) to respond to legislative mandates requiring it to determine "areas of unmet priority need for primary care family physicians "MSSAs are recognized by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions' Office of Shortage Designation as rational service areas for purposes of designating HPSAs, and MUAs/MUPs. MSSA boundaries may be re-aligned after the completion of the ten year census or when requested.