Fla. Admin. Code R. 64W-1.005 (2026)

(1) The Department will sponsor applicants based on the following priorities, in order:

(a) Primary care physicians

1. HPSA score (high to low), then by

2. Rural counties, as defined in section 381.0406, F.S., then by

3. Percent of total practice of patients on Medicaid (high to low), then by

4. Percent of total practice of patients utilizing the practice’s sliding fee scale (high to low), and then by

5. Ambulatory outpatient care practices, then safety net hospitals and critical access hospitals, followed by all other types of inpatient care facilities.

(b) Specialty Physicians

1. HPSA score (high to low), then by

2. Rural counties, as defined in section 381.0406, F.S., then by

3. Percent of total practice of patients on Medicaid (high to low), then by

4. Percent of total practice of patients utilizing the practice’s sliding fee scale (high to low), and then by

5. Ambulatory outpatient care practices, then safety net hospitals and critical access hospitals, followed by all other types of inpatient care facilities.

(2) If there are applications that have equal priorities for the last available slot(s), the application(s) will be re-evaluated based on the aforementioned priorities, and if there are still applications that are equal, the State Surgeon General, or designee, will select the final applicant(s).

(3) If the State Surgeon General determines that there is a Critical Shortage, Department staff will forward to the State Surgeon General (or their designee) all applications deemed complete for the specified specialty and/or in the specified geographic location, for the State Surgeon General’s (or designee’s) determination of sponsorship. These applications will take precedent, superseding all other priority criteria, with the remainder of the available slots being filled based on the priority criteria listed in subsection (1).

Rulemaking Authority 381.4018(3) FS. Law Implemented 381.4018 FS. History–New 8-12-21, Amended 8-23-26.

Effective: 8/23/2026.