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