§ 254f-1. Priorities in assignment of Corps personnel
(a)
In general
In approving applications made under section
254f of this title for the assignment of Corps members, the Secretary shall—
(1)
give priority to any such application that—
(A)
is made regarding the provision of primary health services to a health professional shortage area with the greatest such shortage; and
(2)
with respect to the geographic area in which the health professional shortage area is located, take into consideration the willingness of individuals in the geographic area, and of the appropriate governmental agencies or health entities in the area, to assist and cooperate with the Corps in providing effective primary health services; and
(3)
take into consideration comments of medical, osteopathic, dental, or other health professional societies whose members deliver services to the health professional shortage area, or if no such societies exist, comments of physicians, dentists, or other health professionals delivering services to the area.
(b)
Establishment of criteria for determining priorities
(c)
Notifications regarding priorities
(1)
Proposed list
The Secretary shall prepare and publish a proposed list of health professional shortage areas and entities that would receive priority under subsection (a)(1) of this section in the assignment of Corps members. The list shall contain the information described in paragraph (2), and the relative scores and relative priorities of the entities submitting applications under section
254f of this title, in a proposed format. All such entities shall have 30 days after the date of publication of the list to provide additional data and information in support of inclusion on the list or in support of a higher priority determination and the Secretary shall reasonably consider such data and information in preparing the final list under paragraph (2).
(2)
Preparation of list for applicable period
For the purpose of carrying out paragraph (3), the Secretary shall prepare and, as appropriate, update a list of health professional shortage areas and entities that are receiving priority under subsection (a)(1) of this section in the assignment of Corps members. Such list—
(A)
shall include a specification, for each such health professional shortage area, of the entities for which the Secretary has provided an authorization to receive assignments of Corps members in the event that Corps members are available for the assignments; and
(B)
shall, of the entities for which an authorization described in subparagraph (A) has been provided, specify—
(i)
the entities provided such an authorization for the assignment of Corps members who are participating in the Scholarship Program;
(ii)
the entities provided such an authorization for the assignment of Corps members who are participating in the Loan Repayment Program; and
(iii)
the entities provided such an authorization for the assignment of Corps members who have become Corps members other than pursuant to contractual obligations under the Scholarship or Loan Repayment Programs.
The Secretary may set forth such specifications by medical specialty.
(3)
Notification of affected parties
(A)
Entities
Not later than 30 days after the Secretary has added to a list under paragraph (2) an entity specified as described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph, the Secretary shall notify such entity that the entity has been provided an authorization to receive assignments of Corps members in the event that Corps members are available for the assignments.
(B)
Individuals
In the case of an individual obligated to provide service under the Scholarship Program, not later than 3 months before the date described in section
254m
(b)(5) of this title, the Secretary shall provide to such individual the names of each of the entities specified as described in paragraph (2)(B)(i) that is appropriate for the individual’s medical specialty and discipline.
(4)
Revisions
If the Secretary proposes to make a revision in the list under paragraph (2), and the revision would adversely alter the status of an entity with respect to the list, the Secretary shall notify the entity of the revision. Any entity adversely affected by such a revision shall be notified in writing by the Secretary of the reasons for the revision and shall have 30 days from such notification to file a written appeal of the determination involved which shall be reasonably considered by the Secretary before the revision to the list becomes final. The revision to the list shall be effective with respect to assignment of Corps members beginning on the date that the revision becomes final.
(d)
Limitation on number of entities offered as assignment choices in Scholarship Program
(1)
Determination of available Corps members
By April 1 of each calendar year, the Secretary shall determine the number of participants in the Scholarship Program who will be available for assignments under section
254f of this title during the program year beginning on July 1 of that calendar year.