3701-56-02 Eligibility.

(A) An individual who is not receiving national health services corps tuition or student loan repayment assistance may apply to the director, on a form prescribed by the director, for placement in a dental health resource shortage area and participation in the dentist loan repayment program.

(B) The application shall be submitted by a date and on a form prescribed by the department. The form shall require an applicant to set forth the following information:

(1) The applicant’s name, permanent address or address at which the applicant is currently residing if different from the permanent address, and telephone number;

(2) The dental college the applicant is attending or attended, dates of attendance, and verification of attendance;

(3) If the applicant is a dental resident, the facility or institution at which the residency is being performed;

(4) A summary and verification of the educational expenses for which the applicant seeks reimbursement under the program;

(5) If the applicant is a dentist, verification of the applicant’s license issued under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code to practice dentistry and proof of good standing; and

(6) Verification of the applicant’s United States citizenship or status as a legal alien.

(C) The director of health shall grant an application for placement in a dental health resource shortage area and participation in the dentist loan repayment program if both of the following apply

(1) Funds are available in the dentist loan repayment fund and the general assembly has appropriated funds for the program; and

(2) The director finds that the applicant is eligible for placement and participation in accordance with the priorities established under rule 3701-56-04 of the Administrative Code.

(D) Upon granting an application, the director shall notify and enter into discussions with the applicant. The object of the discussions is to facilitate recruitment of the applicant to a site within a dental health resource shortage area at which, according to the priorities established under rule 3701-56-04 of the Administrative Code, the applicant is needed. The department may pay the costs incurred by the applicant and the applicant’s spouse for travel, meals, and lodging in making one visit to one dental health resource shortage area. The department may also refer an applicant to the Ohio dental association for assistance in being recruited to a site within a dental health resource shortage area at which the applicant will agree to be placed.

(E) If the director and applicant agree on the applicant’s placement at a particular site within a dental health resource shortage area and the amount of the applicant’s educational expenses to be repaid, the applicant shall prepare, sign, and deliver to the director a letter of intent agreeing to that placement. The dentist loan repayment advisory board shall determine the amounts that will be paid as loan repayments on behalf of participants in the dentist loan repayment program.

(F) In the event that it is necessary to establish priorities among applicants, the director shall consider the following factors:

(1) The applicant’s background and career goals;

(2) The length of time the applicant is willing to provide dental services in a dental health resource shortage area;

(3) The amount of the educational expenses for which reimbursement is being sought;

(4) Other financial assistance the applicant has received such as national health services corps tuition or student loan repayment.

(5) The applicant’s expressed interest in working and staying in an underserved area including family members’ interest in the lifestyle associated with areas of underservice; and

(6) The extent to which the applicant has sought or undertaken culturally or economically diverse experiences.

(G) Each applicant will be evaluated against the factors listed in paragraph (F) of this rule. A score will be given to an applicant’s response to each factor and each factor will be weighted using the criteria scoring sheet attached to this rule as an appendix. Additional weight will be given to dentists desiring to practice in an area which has not had a dentist placed in the preceding four years, either through the Ohio dentist loan repayment program or through the federal national health service corps scholarship and loan repayment programs.

Each applicant will be given a total score. In addition, the director may instruct staff to interview applicants to gather responses not easily evaluated from the applicant’s written application. The applicants with the highest scores will be recommended for funding provided that funds are authorized and available. When necessary due to limited funds from the general assembly, payments of less than twenty thousand dollars per year may be made in order to maximize the number of dentists granted loan repayment in dental health resource shortage areas.

Appendix Prioritization of Loan Repayment Candidates Scoring Sheets

See Appendix at http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3701/0/56/3701-56-02_PH_FF_N_APP1_20040628_0909.pdf

HISTORY: Eff. 7-8-04

Rule promulgated under: RC 119.03

Rule authorized by: RC 3702.86

Rule amplifies: RC 3702.88 through 3702.90

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 07/01/2009