A HPSA, or health professional shortage area, is a designation given to an underserved area. This is usually parish-wide but can be used at the census tract level as well. This designation allows incentive programs like National Health Service Corps, State Loan Repayment Program and the Louisiana Conrad State 30 (J-1 visa waiver) Program to be offered to encourage physicians to work in these underserved areas. Some of these designations also offer Medicare bonuses and tax deductions for physicians.