Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are determined by calculating the population to provider ratio in a service area that can be as small as a census tract or as big as a multi-county region. If the population to provider ratio meets federal requirements, the area can be officially designated a HPSA. A HPSA designation is important because it is used as a qualifier for many federal programs. Some of these programs provide increased Medicaid and/or Medicare re-reimbursement and others assist with provider recruitment. Staff within the Wyoming Office of Rural Health are available to assist under-served communities obtain a HPSA designation if they meet federal requirements.
Office of Rural Health
The Wyoming Office of Rural Health seeks to enhance access to healthcare service, support the development of an adequate healthcare workforce, and promote collaboration in expanding comprehensive, community-based healthcare in rural Wyoming.
