R434-40-10. Approved Site Determination

  (1) The Department shall approve sites based on comprehensive applications submitted by sites.

  (2) The criteria the Department may use to determine an approved site for sites that are not nursing schools include:

  (a) the percentage of the population with incomes under 200% of the federal poverty level;

  (b) the percentage of the population 65 years of age and over;

  (c) the percentage of the population under 18 years of age;

  (d) the distance to the nearest geriatric professionals or health care professionals and barriers to reaching the geriatric professionals or health care professionals;

  (e) ability of the site to provide support facilities and services for the requested geriatric professional or health care professional;

  (f) financial stability of the site; and

  (g) percent of patients served who are without insurance or whose care is paid for by government programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP;

  (h) the applicant's policy and practice to provide care regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

  (3) The criteria the Department may use to determine an approved site for sites that are nursing schools include:

  (a) a demonstrated shortage of nursing educator faculty;

  (b) number of and degrees sought by students;

  (c) number of students denied for each degree sought;

  (d) residency of students;

  (e) ability of the nursing school to provide support facilities and services for the requested position to be trained;

  (f) faculty to student ratio, including ratios of clinical and classroom instructors;

  (g) average class sizes for each of the degrees offered by the school;

  (h) school plans to expand enrollment;

  (i) diversity of students;

  (j) current and projected staffing for the type of instructor requested;

  (k) sources and stability of funding to hire and support the prospective instructor; and

  (l) distance to the next closest nursing school.

  (4) The Department may give preference to sites that provide letters of support from the area served by the prospective employer, such as from:

  (a) a majority of practicing health care professionals;

  (b) county and civic leaders;

  (c) hospital administrators;

  (d) business leaders, local chamber of commerce, citizens; and

  (e) local health departments.

  (5) The Department may give preference to sites located in a service area designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as having a shortage of health care professional(s) and that are requesting one of the following medical specialties:

  (a) family practice;

  (b) internal medicine;

  (c) obstetrics/gynecology; and

  (d) pediatrics.

  (6) To become approved, a site must offer a salary and benefit package competitive with salaries and benefits of other geriatric professionals and health care professionals in the service area.

  (7) Other criteria that the site applicant can demonstrate as furthering the purposes of the act.