42 USC 254 - Priorities in assignment of Corps personnel

View all text of Subpartii [§ 254d - § 254k]

§ 254f–1. Priorities in assignment of Corps personnel

(a) In generalIn 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

(B) is made by an entity that—

(i) serves a health professional shortage area described in subparagraph (A);

(ii) coordinates the delivery of primary health services with related health and social services;

(iii) has a documented record of sound fiscal management; and

(iv) will experience a negative impact on its capacity to provide primary health services if a Corps member is not assigned to the entity;

(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

(1) In general

(2) Publication of criteria

(1) Proposed list

(2) Preparation of list for applicable periodFor 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) 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

(B) Individuals

(4) Revisions

(d) Limitation on number of entities offered as assignment choices in Scholarship Program

(1) Determination of available Corps members

(2) Determination of number of entitiesAt all times during a program year, the number of entities specified under subsection (c)(2)(B)(i) shall be—

(A) not less than the number of participants determined with respect to that program year under paragraph (1); and

(B) not greater than twice the number of participants determined with respect to that program year under paragraph (1).

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 333A, as added and amended Pub. L. 101–597, title I, § 104, title IV, § 401(b)[(a)], Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3015, 3035; Pub. L. 107–251, title III, § 304, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1646; Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(h), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2022.)