Virginia’s Rural Medical Deserts Crisis
Virginia's Medical Deserts
Virginia faces a critical challenge with "medical deserts" – areas where healthcare facilities and providers are scarce. This issue is particularly severe in rural regions like Southwest Virginia and the Northern Neck. Key statistics highlight the problem:
- Up to 45.5% of Virginia localities struggle with an insufficient number of primary care physicians.
- A 2024 VCU study revealed that 44% of Virginia census tracts lack adequate primary care access.
Virginia's Healthcare Crisis
Access Gap
PCPs Lost
Low Primary Care Spend
Most Impacted Communities in Virginia
Southside Virginia
Caroline and King George counties suffer significant provider shortages and pharmacy closures.
13.7-45.5% of Virginia localities lack sufficient primary care physicians.
ODU nursing programs aim to increase the rural healthcare workforce.
Southwest Virginia
Counties like Lee, Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Wise face critical health access issues.
Organizations like the Health Wagon are vital in bridging gaps.
A net loss of 50 primary care physicians in 2021 further exacerbates the situation.
Northern Neck
Long travel distances and scarcity of providers leave residents underserved.
The Cardinal Care managed care program (launched July 2025) aims to improve coordinated care, yet provider availability persists as a challenge.
Who Bears the Burden?
Rural Areas
Virginia's rural areas experience severe primary care shortages. 13.7-45.5% of localities lack enough physicians, reflecting the state's lowest provider ratios.
Low-Income Residents
Communities with higher poverty are hit hardest. Even with Medicaid expansion, over 135,000 Virginia children lost coverage, 44% due to procedural issues.
Black Neighborhoods
Healthcare deserts frequently coincide with areas having higher percentages of Black residents, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
The Economic Toll in Virginia
$13.2B
Virginia Medicaid Spending (2022)
Virginia's 2022 expenditure covering 600,000+ additional residents since 2019 expansion. Underserved communities bear higher regional burden.
135K+
Children Lost Medicaid Coverage
Over 135,000 Virginia children lost coverage during the unwinding process, with 44% due to procedural reasons rather than ineligibility.
2.1 - 3.9%
Primary Care Spending
Virginia allocates only 2.1-3.9% of healthcare dollars to primary care (2024), impacting preventive services and early intervention.
