Summary
Medically underserved areas and populations are designated by the US Department of Health and Human Services based a numerical value that is assigned to an area, usually a group of census tracts, a county, tract of counties, or minor civil division. These values are based on the number of physicians available, the proportion of the population that lives under the poverty line, the proportion of the population over the age of 65 years, and infant mortality and are weighted. If the numerical value assigned is lower than 62, the area or population is designated as being medically underserved may be able to obtain grants or funding from the federal and state government to improve medical services for that area or population.

Author or Organization
US Department of Health and Human Services

Geographic Area Covered and Level of Analysis
Entire United States is covered, but data can be displayed for state and county levels. Data for Cook County is displayed primarily at census tract (CT) level.

Year(s)
Ongoing - data for Cook County spans from 1983 to 2007

Variables Covered
Census tract, score received by census tract group, community name, original designation date, and date record may have been updated.

Other Sources of Similar Information and External Links
MUAFind - Index page that allows you to search first by state and then by county.
Glossary of terms for medically underserved areas.
Guidelines for MUA designation.
HRSA mapping tools and other national data sources (mapping works with IE browsers only)