2026-02130Notice

Request for Public Comment on the Updated Criteria for Determining Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas

Published Date: 2/3/2026

Notice

Summary

HRSA is updating how it picks areas that really need maternity care pros by dropping the Social Vulnerability Index and giving more points to how many moms need care and how far they must travel. This change affects communities with maternity care shortages and helps decide where to send health workers. If you’ve got thoughts, speak up by March 5, 2026—this could shape where money and help go next!

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

SVI Removed; Points Reallocated to Shortage and Travel

HRSA is removing the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) criterion (previously worth 0–2 points) from the maternity care target area (MCTA) score and is reallocating those two points: one point to the population-to-full-time-equivalent maternity care health professional ratio and one point to travel distance/time to the nearest accessible care. HRSA says there were over 7,600 MCTAs as of September 2025, the composite MCTA score range is 0–25, and redistributing the SVI points would raise average MCTA scores by 6.6% overall while about 200 MCTAs may see a score decrease (largely those designated for Medicaid-eligible populations and certain low-income migrant populations).

Change May Affect NHSC Loan Repayment Awards

HRSA primarily uses MCTA scores to help distribute National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment awards to eligible maternity care health professionals. HRSA notes providers can apply using either the primary care HPSA score or the MCTA score of their site, whichever is higher, so some providers in areas with lower MCTA scores after this change may instead rely on their primary care HPSA score.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this regulation affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Key Dates

Published Date
Comments Due
2/3/2026
3/5/2026

Department and Agencies

Department
Independent Agency
Agency
Health and Human Services Department
Health Resources and Services Administration
Source: View HTML

Related Federal Register Documents

Previous / Next Documents

Back to Federal Register

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in