§ 34-21-97 — Areas of Critical Need

(a) An area of critical need, as determined by the board, shall be physically located within this state and shall satisfy one of the following:
(1) Be located within a primary care health professional shortage area (HPSA) for a geographic area, recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration, or its successor organization, or by the Alabama Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, or its successor organization.
(2) Be a Federally Qualified Health Center or designated Indian Health Service, Tribal Health, and Urban Indian Health Organization located anywhere within the state, with a primary care HPSA score of 14 or more.
(3) Be located within an eligible Alabama Rural Medical Service Awards rural community as defined most recently by the Alabama Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, or its successor organization.
(b) The board shall adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act to implement this section.

Legislative History

(Act 2016-353, p. 864, §1; Act 2023-317, §1.)