HHS Issues New List of HPSA Designations
Posted Oct 01, 2000

On September 15, 2000 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an updated list of Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations by posting a notice in the Federal Register. HPSAs are relevant in a variety of immigration contexts, including waivers of the 2-year home country requirement for J-1 physicians as well as the eligibility requirements for employers under the H-1C nurse visa program. HPSAs are also used in connection with HHS programs including residency program training grants and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, among others. 

There are three types of HPSAs, indicating shortages in the fields of primary health care, mental health services, and dental care. The HHS notice therefore contains three separate lists of HPSAs. Each of these lists includes localities that have a shortage of the particular type of health professionals, particular population groups having inadequate access to health care professionals, and specific health care facilities experiencing shortages. By law, the HHS is required to publish the HPSA list on an annual basis. This latest list supersedes last year's list, which was issued on September 20, 1999.