AHRF & HRSA Workforce Data
Healthcare Workforce Shortage by State
0 states average fewer than 50 primary care physicians per 100,000 population — well below the threshold for adequate access. The national average is 77.5 PCPs per 100K, but rural counties within every state face much steeper shortages. Workforce gaps drive longer wait times, higher ER utilization, and worse chronic disease outcomes.
PCP Supply Map
Primary care physicians per 100,000 population by state. Darker colors indicate lower supply (greater shortage). Click a state for its full workforce profile.
Primary care physicians per 100,000 population (AHRF)
All 50 States Ranked by PCP Supply
Sorted by lowest PCP supply first (worst shortage at top). Click any column header to re-sort.
| # | State | PCPs/100K ▲ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UtahUT | 56.1 |
| 2 | MississippiMS | 56.2 |
| 3 | NevadaNV | 58.4 |
| 4 | OklahomaOK | 59.2 |
| 5 | TexasTX | 60.9 |
| 6 | IdahoID | 62.8 |
| 7 | KentuckyKY | 63.2 |
| 8 | ArizonaAZ | 63.9 |
| 9 | AlabamaAL | 65.4 |
| 10 | IndianaIN | 66.1 |
| 11 | South CarolinaSC | 67.3 |
| 12 | GeorgiaGA | 67.5 |
| 13 | TennesseeTN | 68.2 |
| 14 | ArkansasAR | 69.3 |
| 15 | North CarolinaNC | 70.3 |
| 16 | WyomingWY | 71.2 |
| 17 | LouisianaLA | 72.0 |
| 18 | MissouriMO | 72.1 |
| 19 | FloridaFL | 73.0 |
| 20 | New MexicoNM | 73.1 |
| 21 | IowaIA | 74.3 |
| 22 | NebraskaNE | 75.1 |
| 23 | VirginiaVA | 75.9 |
| 24 | OhioOH | 76.7 |
| 25 | DelawareDE | 78.2 |
| 26 | KansasKS | 79.1 |
| 27 | New JerseyNJ | 79.2 |
| 28 | North DakotaND | 79.3 |
| 29 | MichiganMI | 80.5 |
| 30 | South DakotaSD | 80.5 |
| 31 | PennsylvaniaPA | 80.7 |
| 32 | WisconsinWI | 81.3 |
| 33 | West VirginiaWV | 81.6 |
| 34 | IllinoisIL | 82.6 |
| 35 | MontanaMT | 82.8 |
| 36 | ColoradoCO | 83.1 |
| 37 | New YorkNY | 83.4 |
| 38 | ConnecticutCT | 83.7 |
| 39 | CaliforniaCA | 84.2 |
| 40 | New HampshireNH | 84.8 |
| 41 | WashingtonWA | 85.1 |
| 42 | MarylandMD | 85.6 |
| 43 | HawaiiHI | 88.1 |
| 44 | MinnesotaMN | 89.9 |
| 45 | Rhode IslandRI | 93.2 |
| 46 | AlaskaAK | 93.9 |
| 47 | OregonOR | 94.7 |
| 48 | MassachusettsMA | 102.2 |
| 49 | MaineME | 105.3 |
| 50 | VermontVT | 114.3 |
Source: HRSA Area Health Resources File (AHRF), HRSA HPSA designations, HRSA FQHC registry, CMS Provider of Services (hospital data), USDA RUCA codes (rural classification).
Why Workforce Supply Matters for Rural Hospitals
Primary care physician supply is one of the strongest predictors of community health outcomes. Counties with fewer PCPs have higher rates of preventable hospitalizations, more emergency department visits for conditions that could have been managed in an outpatient setting, and worse outcomes for chronic conditions like diabetes and depression.
For rural hospitals, workforce shortages create a vicious cycle. Hospitals that cannot recruit physicians lose outpatient revenue, which weakens their financial position, which makes recruitment even harder. Many rural hospitals report that their single biggest operational challenge is recruiting and retaining primary care providers.
FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers) serve as a critical safety net in underserved areas, providing primary care regardless of ability to pay. States with more FQHC sites relative to their shortage designations have a more robust primary care infrastructure — though FQHCs alone cannot replace the full scope of hospital-based services.
The RHT Compass platform integrates AHRF workforce data with HRSA shortage designations, hospital financial metrics, and chronic disease prevalence to give decision-makers a complete view of where workforce gaps and health access challenges intersect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the PCP supply data come from?
Primary care physician counts come from the HRSA Area Health Resources File (AHRF), which compiles county-level data from the AMA Physician Masterfile, Census Bureau population estimates, and other federal sources. RHT Compass calculates the per-100K rate by aggregating county-level data to the state level.
What counts as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)?
HPSAs are designated by HRSA based on provider-to-population ratios, poverty rates, and travel time to the nearest provider. There are three types: primary care, dental health, and mental health. A single county can have multiple HPSA designations. The “HPSA Designations” column shows the total active designations across all three types for each state.
How do FQHCs help fill workforce gaps?
Federally Qualified Health Centers receive federal grant funding to provide comprehensive primary care in medically underserved areas. They are required to serve all patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. FQHCs employ physicians, nurse practitioners, and other providers who might not otherwise practice in rural or underserved areas. However, FQHCs provide outpatient care — they do not replace hospital emergency or inpatient services.
Why does rural percentage matter for workforce analysis?
States with higher rural percentages face steeper workforce challenges because rural areas are inherently harder to staff. Recruitment costs are higher, provider turnover is faster, and the geographic distribution of providers is more uneven. A state may have an adequate overall PCP rate but still have severe county-level shortages in its rural areas.
See Workforce & Access Data for Your State
Every state page includes county-level workforce metrics, shortage area designations, FQHC locations, and hospital financial data. Start with your state, or request a demo.
Workforce data from HRSA Area Health Resources File (AHRF). HPSA designations from HRSA. FQHC sites from HRSA Health Center Program. Hospital data from CMS Provider of Services. Rural classification from USDA RUCA codes. Last updated: 2026-02-15.