The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is notifying Primary Care Offices (PCOs) and Primary Care Associations (PCAs) of an update to the Maternity Care Target Area (MCTA) scoring methodology. This update is consistent with the May 7, 2026 Federal Register Notice of Criteria for Determining Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas.
The update will be implemented as part of the August 15, 2026, Shortage Designation Management System (SDMS) release and requires no action from PCOs, PCAs, or stakeholders. Additional details are below.
- What is changing? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index component will be removed from the MCTA scoring methodology, and its points will be redistributed between the Population-to-Provider Ratio and Nearest Source of Care components.
- Why is this change being made? Population-to-Provider Ratio and Nearest Source of Care are considered more representative measures of maternity care access and need than the Social Vulnerability Index and better reflect demand for maternity care services.
- When and how? The update will be deployed on August 15, 2026, as part of the August SDMS release. Updated MCTA scores will be reflected following the release.
- Who is affected? All currently designated Primary Care HPSAs — geographic, population, and facility designations — with an associated MCTA score.
- What action is required? HRSA will implement the update through a system data fix. No action is required from PCOs, PCAs, or stakeholders.
HRSA appreciates your continued partnership in supporting the Shortage Designation program. Additional information about this update will be shared through standard program communications channels.