HRSA Renews System to Map Health Worker Shortfalls
Published Date: 12/17/2025
Notice
Summary
HRSA is asking for public feedback to keep using its Shortage Designation Management System, which helps spot places and people who need more health workers. This system’s approval is up for renewal, and comments are open until January 16, 2026. If you care about fair health care access, this is your chance to weigh in—no money changes now, just a smooth extension to keep things running.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
HPSA scores steer NHSC funding and eligibility
HPSA designations (scores range 1–25 for primary care and mental health, and 1–26 for dental) are used to prioritize applications for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program awards and to determine service sites eligible for NHSC Scholarships and Students-to-Service participants. That means HPSA designations affect which communities and providers receive workforce-focused funding and recruitment support.
Large administrative time burden on state PCOs
HRSA estimates 54 respondents will complete SDMS forms totaling 7,074 responses and a combined 38,664 annual burden hours (20,736 hours for Designation Planning and Preparation and 17,928 hours for SDMS Applications). State Primary Care Offices and site points of contact must spend this time to prepare and submit HPSA and MUA/P designation applications.
HRSA commits to reduce burden via automation
HRSA acknowledged commenters who said the SDMS workload is higher than estimated and committed to review burden estimates, pursue automation and integration with federal datasets (for example, Medicaid, CDC, NSDUH), and explore SDMS functionality improvements. HRSA said that structural changes to designation methods would require formal rulemaking.
SDMS renewal keeps designation system
HRSA has submitted an extension request to keep using the Shortage Designation Management System (SDMS) and is accepting public comments through January 16, 2026. This keeps the online process for applying for Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P) designations operating without any immediate change in funding.
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Key Dates
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