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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I download data from data.HRSA.gov?

You can find a detailed listing of the available data on the About the Data page. Many of our data sets are available for download on the Data Download page.

Still not finding what you need? If you require additional data, please contact one of the following:

Where can I see a summary of HRSA’s activities?

Please see the HRSA Fact Sheets.

What is the distinction between an “Active” Grant and an “Awarded” Grant?

Active Grant – A financial assistance award (e.g., grant/cooperative agreement) whose project period effective date has already started in the current fiscal year or a prior fiscal year and has not yet expired. (To explain further, a grant is counted as “active” when awarded by HRSA in the current Fiscal Year, or in a prior Fiscal Year if the grantee is still actively working on the grant. Grants may have a duration up to five years. Once a grant is closed out by HRSA, it is no longer counted as an active grant.)

Awarded Grant – A financial assistance award (e.g., grant/cooperative agreement) whose federal funds have been obligated in a prior or current fiscal year and may be active, inactive, or closed. (To explain further, a grant is counted as “awarded” only once, in the fiscal year in which that grant was awarded, even though grants may have a duration of up to five years.)

My organization’s contact information is incorrect in the Locator Tools. How can this be fixed?

Federally Qualified Health Centers: FQHC organizations receive grants from HRSA update their own records in the Electronic Handbooks (EHB) system. Please see the following link to learn how an authorized user can make the update to the records: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/note.

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Medical Providers: The information used to populate the provider locator tool is submitted by sub-recipients in the Ryan White Services Report (RSR) provider report. We encourage sub-recipients to review information submitted in the RSR provider report to ensure that what’s captured for the sub-recipient site and service sites accurately reflect location and contact information. Any updates or additions that are made to the provider report during reporting season will be reflected in the provider locator tool as soon as the yearly update is complete.

When applying filters to Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) data, why do I get fewer results filtering by county and state than when I use the two-letter state abbreviation through the Map Tool or Data Explorer?

Using the tool to filter by city and state will return only “Point” type (i.e. facility) HPSAs because this type of HPSA contains city and state information. Using the state abbreviation will return all HPSAs, a much larger group, but which have no city identifier included.

Why do clinician and grantee counts differ between geographic areas?

Clinicians and grantees may serve or operate in multiple locations with funds from a single grant or award. These locations may be in different HHS regions, states, counties, or congressional districts. Because of this, the counts of clinicians and grantees may not add up across all geographic reporting areas.

How are shortage area counts calculated?

The geographic boundaries of shortage areas, including HPSAs and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P), may cross the geographic boundaries of a HHS region, state, county, or congressional district. As a result, a shortage area may be counted in more than one geographic area. Alternately, some shortage areas cannot be geocoded to an exact location, only to the state or territory in which they are located.

How can I get additional help with the data.HRSA.gov website?

Please submit your question at https://www.hrsa.gov/about/contact/ehbhelp.aspx or call 877-464-4772, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET (except Federal holidays). Our goal is to respond to your inquiry within one business day.

Map Tool FAQs

How do I move around the map?

Click and drag within the map screen to move around the map.

Can I zoom to a specific area on the map?

Yes, simply type in a state, county, city, or ZIP Code into the “Enter a U.S. Location” box. As you type, location suggestions will display to help narrow the search. Select the desired location and press “Enter.” The map will zoom to the boundary of the area entered.

To return to a national view, click on the house icon in the vertical menu on the left-hand side of the tool.

What do the map tool buttons on the left-hand side do?

The tools in the vertical toolbar have the following functions:

  • Plus("Zoom in") – allows users to zoom in
  • Minus("Zoom out") – allows users to zoom out
  • House("Default map view") – allows users to return to the default, national view of the map
  • Printer("Print") – allows users to print the map
  • Four Squares("Change map background") – allows users to change the map background
  • Stack("Open Legend") – allows user to view the legend

How do I add layers to the map?

To add layers to the map, look at the options listed in the menus on the left-hand side of the tool. Layers are organized into categories to make it simpler to find the layers that you are looking for.

When you see the layer that you want, simply check the box next to the name of the layer that you want to add to the map.

How do I search for layers to add to the map?

To search for a layer(s) enter text into the "Search for data to map" text box. As you type the search tool will update to display layers that match your text.

How can I change the order of the layers?

First, click on “Open Legend” in the left-hand menu of the tool to expand that panel. The layers are displayed in order from top to bottom.

Reorder the layers by clicking on the menu icon next to the layer and choosing "move up" or "move down" to change the order on the map.

What do the map symbols mean?

The symbols on the map for most layers are predefined in the Map Tool. To see the legend for your map, simply click on “Open Legend” in the left-hand menu of the tool to expand that panel. The legend for all layers on your map will be displayed.

Can I change the color and symbols on the map?

Users can change the color and symbol for the layer when they first add it to the map. After choosing the layer, on the left hand side, they will be given the option to change the symbol and/or color.

Can I show my own data on the map?

Yes, you can upload your own data and display it on the map. You must have a file that contains the coordinates of the data elements (latitude and longitude), and the file must be a .CSV formatted file.

First, click on "Your Data” in the left-hand menu of the tool to open the Add Data window. Click the "Local CSV File" tab. Use the “Choose File” feature to locate your data file. The data will default to show on the map as red circles, but you can choose alternate symbols and colors. You can also choose a custom name for the layer.

Please note that the Map Tool displays your custom data on your computer only – it is not transferred to the HDW server or saved in any way.

Can I add data from the Web?

On the "Web" tab, you can add data from either an ArcGIS Web Service, a WMS OGC Map Service, or a CSV file on the web. First select which type of data you would like to add, then copy and paste the web address, and click "Add Data to Map." Example sources are provided for each of these data types. More data from local, state and federal government agencies can be found at www.data.gov, and directly from those agencies.

Can I change the base map?

Users can choose from a variety of background(base) maps. To change the base map, click on “Change Map Background", displayed as four squares in the left-hand menu of the tool to expand that panel, choose one of the options for the base map display.

How can I get details about a point or points on a map layer?

Add the layer or layers that you want to the map. Click on the point with that wish to see details about using the left mouse button. You will see a pop-up window containing details about that point. The columns shown are pre-selected in the tool and differ by data set.

How can I print a map?

After you have added layers to your map, you can save it using the “Print” button on the left side of the Map Tool.