Office of Primary Care and Rural Health

According to Sections 1302(7) and 330(b) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, the term medically underserved area or medically underserved population means the population of an urban or rural area designated as an area with a shortage of professional health services. Recipients of Community Health Center (CHC) grant funds are legislatively required to serve areas or populations designated as medically underserved. Grants for the planning, development, or operation of community health centers under Section 330 of the PHS Act are available only to centers that serve designated MUAs or MUPs. Systems of care which meet the definition of a community health center and are serving a designated MUA or MUP, but are not funded under Section 330, are eligible for certification as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The Division of Shortage Designation of the Bureau of Health Professions determines MUA/MUP designations. MUA/MUPs in your area may be found at this link: https://muafind.hrsa.gov.

Sources: Public Health Service, HHS, 42 CFR Part 5 as of January 18, 1996; Bureau of Primary Health Care, Guidelines for MUA/MUP Designation, June 12, 1995; Richard C. Lee, Current Approaches to Shortage Area Designation, The Journal of Rural Health, Vol. 7 (4) Supp. 1991; Beth Giesting, Outline of Federal Designations for Areas, Populations, and Providers, (part of memo to Representative Kahikina, dated January 23, 1996, Honolulu); National Association of County Health Officials, National Health Service Corps; Applying for Corps Personnel, January 17, 1992.