Medically Underserved Population (MUP) Guidelines

The Medically Underserved Population (MUP) designation involves application of the Index of Medical Underservice (IMU) to data on an underserved population within an area of residence to obtain a score for the population group. Population groups requested for MUP designation should be those with economic (low-income or Medicaid-eligible populations), cultural and/or linguistic access barriers to primary medical care services.

The MUP process involves assembling the same data elements and carrying out the same computational steps as stated for MUAs. The population is now the population of the requested group within the area rather than the total resident civilian population of the area. The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) primary care physicians includes only those serving the requested population group.

Exceptional Designations
A population group which does not meet the established criteria of an IMU less than 62 can be considered for an Exceptional Designation if "unusual local conditions which are a barrier to access to personal health services, or the availability of personal health services" exist and are documented.

Application Checklist
(Include the following in the MUA/P application)

1. Rational Service Area

Type of designation
Name of Service Area
Name of the county or counties
List of service area parts
Reason for application (new or update)
Explanation of any changes from current designation
Explanation of why area is rational
Map of service area that shows census delineation boundaries

2. Population

Population number for type of designation
Source of data

3. List of Providers (include the following for each provider)

Name
Location (non-metro areas: name of town; metro areas: address with zip code and CT, if available)
Degree (M.D. or D.O.)
Specialty
Average number of hours/week of patient care in area
Inpatient care hours
Percentage of practice population hours - breakout for each (Medicaid, sliding fee, migrant farm worker, etc.)
FTE total for each provider rounded to the nearest 0.1
Description of how information was obtained (source, method)

4. Providers per 1,000 Population

Calculate total FTE
Providers per 1000 population

5. Other Variables

Percentage at 100 percent poverty in area
Infant Mortality Rate in area
Percentage age 65 and over in area
Source of data

6. IMU Score

Show weighted values for 4 variables
Show IMU score
Do not submit applications for IMU's > 62.0

A request for an Exceptional Designation must describe in detail the unusual local conditions/access barriers/availability indicators which led to the recommendation for exceptional designation. Supporting data should be included in the request. Such requests must also include a written recommendation for designation from the governor of the state and the local health official.

Staff Contact

Barry Lacy
Manager of Community Development
(217) 541-7379
blacy@iphca.org

HPSA Guidelines

MUA Guidelines

Federal Benefits Requiring Designations

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