The Tri-State Development Regional Report
news & updates
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TRI-STATE DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL INSIGHTS | |
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Before reviewing county-level HPSA scores in our region, let’s define what an HPSA score is and how it's calculated.
The Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score, assigned by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA),measures provider shortages on a scale of:
- 0 - 25 for primary care and mental health
- 0 - 26 for dental care
HPSA scores are based on three key factors:
1. Population-to-Provider Ratio – Higher ratios indicate greater shortages.
2. Poverty Rate – Higher poverty levels increase scores due to greater healthcare access barriers.
3. Travel Time to Care – Rural and remote areas receive higher scores due to limited nearby providers.
For mental health HPSAs, additional considerations include the psychiatrist-to-population ratio and the availability of core mental health professionals.
HPSA shortages can generally be thought of in terms of severe, moderate, and low depending on their assigned score.
Severe Shortages (17-25) – Urgent need for providers; highest priority for federal support.
Moderate Shortages (10-16) – Significant shortages with access issues, but less critical.
Low Shortages (0-9) – Some shortages, but not urgent.
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Here are a few key insights from the county-level data along with the potential impact on the regional economy:
- Of the 40 counties in the Tri-State Development region where HPSA score data is available, 39 (97%) are classified as having a moderate to severe shortage of primary care health professionals. Among them, 10 counties fall into the severe shortage category. This lack of access could drive residents to seek care elsewhere, weakening local healthcare infrastructure.
- One county in our region, Mercer County, Illinois, has a HPSA score in the low range. Interestingly, the county's population to provider ratios are quite high, indicating that healthcare professionals are likely located in an adjacent county near population centers.
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- Cass County, IL has the highest primary care population-to-provider ratio of 12,770:1. This can lead to delayed medical attention, poorer health outcomes, and increased healthcare costs due to emergency care reliance.
- Ralls County, MO has the highest dental care population-to-provider ratio of 10,420:1. Poor dental care can affect workforce readiness and increase long-term health issues, impacting economic productivity.
- Keokuk County, Iowa has the highest mental health population-to-provider ratio at 9,900:1, potentially contributing to workforce absenteeism, lower productivity, and increased social services costs.
- The average primary care provider ratio in the region is approximately 3,578:1, much higher than the national average of 1,330:1. This suggests that overall access to healthcare in the region is significantly constrained.
- Some regional counties experience extreme shortages in primary care, dental, and mental health. Addressing these gaps could stabilize the local economy and improve quality of life.
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32% of our regional residents live in a severe HPSA area, with an additional 64% of residents living in a moderate HPSA area. This equates to a whopping 700,000+ residents in our region who live in moderate to severe HPSA designated areas. With 2% of the population living in an area where data isn't available, this means that only 2% of our regional residents live in low HPSA designated areas.
Why HPSA Scores Matter for Economic Development
Healthcare shortages aren’t just a medical issue, they’re an economic one. Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores highlight regions where healthcare access is severely lacking. The higher the score, the more urgent the need.
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A shortage of healthcare providers doesn’t just make it harder for people to get care—it impacts the entire local economy. Businesses struggle to attract and retain workers when healthcare access is limited. Employees facing long wait times or long drives for care are less productive. Families may even choose to live elsewhere. Meanwhile, healthcare costs rise as people delay care until it becomes an emergency, straining local hospitals and clinics.
But here’s the opportunity! When communities prioritize attracting healthcare providers, they don’t just improve access to care—they strengthen the local economy. More providers mean more jobs, better health outcomes, and a stronger foundation for business growth. Investments in healthcare keep dollars local, create new opportunities, and make the region more attractive to employers and families alike.
Addressing high HPSA scores isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart economic strategy.
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Tri-State Development Stakeholder Survey RESULTS | |
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A big Thank you to those who took the time to complete the stakeholder survey. We are eager to share the results with you.
Over the next few months, we will begin to put in place new tools, resources, information, and programs to align with the feedback that you provided.
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Economic Development Program Connects Counties Across State Lines and Varied Geographies
Tri-State Development works with over 40 counties across three states to leverage the collective economic and cultural heft of these rural communities to bring more economic opportunities locally.
by Anya Petrone Slepyan
January 28, 2025
Tri-State Development was recently highlighted in The Daily Yonder, a national rural publication that provides news, commentary, and analysis about and for rural America.
Read the Article
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Please join us in showing gratitude to our sponsors who generously provided support for the 2024 Tri-State Development Summit and for ongoing programming throughout the year.
Please consider becoming a sponsorship partner. Your investments supports not only the Summit but community-focused activities, resources, and tools all year long.
2024 Presenting sponsor:
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IMPACT PARTNERS
$1,000
Blessing Health System
Great River Health
Hannibal Regional
Klingner & Associates
Northeast Power
Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu & Mitchell LLP
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$500
John Wood Community College
Lewis County Industrial Development Authority
Moberly Area Community College
Porchlight Services
Quincy Medical Group
Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials
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SUSTAINING PARTNERS
$250
Great River Economic Development Foundation
Michelmann Steel Construction Company
Pike County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation
Pike-Scott Farm Bureau
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Tri-State Development at Culver-Stockton College supports the region by cultivating collaborative relationships, promoting interdisciplinary problem-solving, fostering the expansion of academic-organization-industry initiatives, and developing an environment for collective impact to address the current and emerging economic, and social challenges in the region.
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Tri-State Development Culver-Stockton College | culver.edu/tsd
Leslie Sieck, Executive Director lsieck@culver.edu]
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