HRSA Regions Explained: Complete List of States & Regional Jurisdictions

Table of Contents#

1. What is HRSA? A Brief Overview
2. HRSA’s Regional Structure: Why Localization Matters
3. Breakdown of Each HRSA Region (States, Jurisdictions, & Key Focus Areas)
   • Region 1: New England
   • Region 2: New York, New Jersey, & Caribbean Territories
   • Region 3: Mid-Atlantic
   • Region 4: Southeast
   • Region 5: Great Lakes
   • Region 6: South Central
   • Region 7: Heartland
   • Region 8: Mountain States
   • Region 9: West Coast & Pacific Territories
   • Region 10: Northwest
4. Key Functions of HRSA Regional Offices
5. Why HRSA Regions Are Essential for Equitable Healthcare
6. Conclusion
7. References

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What is HRSA? A Brief Overview#

HRSA is a federal agency dedicated to improving health outcomes for underserved populations, including rural residents, low-income families, racial and ethnic minorities, people living with HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health patients. Its core programs include:

• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which provide affordable primary care to millions of uninsured Americans.
• The National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which places healthcare providers in high-need areas.
• Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) initiatives to reduce infant mortality and support maternal wellness.
• HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) programs that fund care and treatment for people living with HIV.

To execute these programs effectively, HRSA relies on its regional offices to connect national resources with local community needs.

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HRSA’s Regional Structure: Why Localization Matters#

HRSA’s 10 regional offices act as the agency’s on-the-ground presence. Each office is led by a Regional Administrator who works closely with state health departments, tribal organizations, community health centers, and local nonprofits to:

• Adapt national policies to regional healthcare priorities.
• Distribute grants to high-need providers.
• Collect data to identify gaps in care.
• Coordinate emergency response efforts during public health crises (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics).

This localized model ensures that resources are not one-size-fits-all but tailored to address specific challenges, such as rural healthcare shortages in the Mountain West or maternal mortality disparities in the Southeast.

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Breakdown of Each HRSA Region (States, Jurisdictions, & Key Focus Areas)#

Region 1: New England#

• Regional Office Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• States & Jurisdictions: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Addressing rural healthcare access gaps in Maine and Vermont, where many small towns lack primary care providers.
  • Supporting community health centers in urban hubs like Boston to serve low-income and immigrant populations.
  • Combating the opioid crisis, which has hit rural New England communities particularly hard.

Region 2: New York, New Jersey, & Caribbean Territories#

• Regional Office Location: New York City, New York
• States & Jurisdictions: New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Serving dense urban populations in NYC and Newark, where access to affordable mental health services is a top priority.
  • Rebuilding healthcare infrastructure in Puerto Rico, which continues to recover from natural disasters like Hurricane Maria.
  • Addressing health disparities in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where rates of chronic disease are higher than the national average.

Region 3: Mid-Atlantic#

• Regional Office Location: Baltimore, Maryland
• States & Jurisdictions: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Supporting veteran healthcare access, given the region’s proximity to Washington D.C. and military bases.
  • Tackling rural health challenges in West Virginia, where hospital closures have left many communities without care.
  • Improving maternal health outcomes in Maryland and Virginia, which have seen disparities in Black maternal mortality rates.

Region 4: Southeast#

• Regional Office Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Combating high rates of chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension) in the Deep South, where food deserts and limited access to preventive care are widespread.
  • Addressing maternal mortality disparities among Black communities, which are 2–3 times higher than white communities in the region.
  • Coordinating hurricane preparedness and response in Florida and coastal states to ensure healthcare services remain accessible during disasters.

Region 5: Great Lakes#

• Regional Office Location: Chicago, Illinois
• States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Supporting manufacturing communities facing job losses, which are linked to increased rates of mental health issues and substance use disorders.
  • Addressing rural healthcare shortages in northern Michigan and Wisconsin, where many residents travel hours for specialized care.
  • Expanding telehealth services to connect underserved populations with providers.

Region 6: South Central#

• Regional Office Location: Dallas, Texas
• States: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Tackling rural health access in West Texas and New Mexico, where vast distances make it hard to reach care.
  • Responding to natural disasters like hurricanes in Louisiana and tornadoes in Oklahoma by deploying emergency healthcare resources.
  • Supporting border health initiatives in Texas to serve immigrant populations and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Region 7: Heartland#

• Regional Office Location: Kansas City, Missouri
• States: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Supporting agricultural communities with high rates of occupational health issues (e.g., farm injuries, pesticide exposure).
  • Addressing rural hospital closures, which have left some communities without emergency care.
  • Expanding access to mental health services for rural residents, who often face stigma and limited provider options.

Region 8: Mountain States#

• Regional Office Location: Denver, Colorado
• States: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Addressing extreme rural healthcare gaps in states like Montana and Wyoming, where some counties have no primary care providers.
  • Supporting outdoor and occupational health services for workers in mining, ranching, and recreation industries.
  • Combating substance use disorders, which are prevalent in rural mountain communities.

Region 9: West Coast & Pacific Territories#

• Regional Office Location: San Francisco, California
• States & Jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Serving large immigrant populations in California and Arizona, many of whom are uninsured or underinsured.
  • Supporting healthcare infrastructure in remote Pacific territories, where limited resources and geographic isolation create barriers to care.
  • Addressing wildfire-related health impacts in California, including respiratory issues and mental health trauma.

Region 10: Northwest#

• Regional Office Location: Seattle, Washington
• States: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Supporting Indigenous communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, who face disproportionate rates of chronic disease and healthcare access gaps.
  • Addressing rural healthcare shortages in Idaho and eastern Oregon, where provider recruitment is a major challenge.
  • Expanding mental health and substance use disorder services in urban areas like Seattle, which has seen rising rates of homelessness and addiction.

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Key Functions of HRSA Regional Offices#

HRSA’s regional offices perform five core functions to advance the agency’s mission:

1. Grant Administration: Review, distribute, and monitor HRSA grants to local healthcare providers, community health centers, and nonprofits. This includes providing technical support to grantees to ensure compliance and maximize impact.
2. Technical Assistance: Offer training and resources to healthcare organizations, such as cultural competence training for serving diverse populations or guidance on implementing telehealth services.
3. Data Collection & Reporting: Gather regional health data to identify gaps in care, track progress on public health goals, and inform national policy decisions.
4. Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with state health departments, tribal governments, local agencies, and community groups to coordinate healthcare services and address regional priorities.
5. Emergency Response: Deploy resources and support during public health emergencies, such as distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) during pandemics or setting up mobile clinics after natural disasters.

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Why HRSA Regions Are Essential for Equitable Healthcare#

HRSA’s regional structure is critical to reducing health disparities for three key reasons:

• Tailored Solutions: Regional offices understand the unique challenges of their areas (e.g., rural isolation in the Mountain West, urban overcrowding in the Northeast) and can adapt programs to meet those needs.
• Equitable Resource Distribution: By operating locally, HRSA ensures that resources are allocated to communities with the greatest need, rather than a one-size-fits-all national approach.
• Local Accountability: Regional offices are closer to the communities they serve, making it easier to gather feedback, address concerns, and hold grantees accountable for delivering results.

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Conclusion#

HRSA’s 10 regional offices are the backbone of the agency’s mission to provide equitable healthcare access to underserved populations. By focusing on regional priorities, collaborating with local stakeholders, and distributing resources strategically, these offices help address some of the U.S.’s most pressing public health challenges—from rural hospital closures to maternal mortality disparities. Whether you’re a healthcare provider seeking grants, a community member in need of care, or a policymaker looking to improve health outcomes, understanding HRSA’s regional structure is key to leveraging its resources effectively.

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References#

1. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). (n.d.). HRSA Regional Offices. Retrieved from https://www.hrsa.gov/about/regional-offices
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (n.d.). About HRSA. Retrieved from https://www.hrsa.gov/about
3. HRSA. (2023). 2023 HRSA Regional Priority Reports. Retrieved from https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/regional-priorities