1. A. The overall time-frame begins, for:

   1. 1. An initial application, on the date established as the deadline for submission of an initial application in R9-15-302(A);
   2. 2. A renewal application, on the date established as the deadline for submission of a renewal application in R9-15-303(A);
   3. 3. An application submitted according to R9-15-304, on the date established as the deadline for submission in R9-15-304(A); or
   4. 4. A request to add or transfer to another service site or employer, add or change a lender, add or change a qualifying educational loan, change hours worked, suspend or cancel a behavioral health loan repayment contract, or waive liquidated damages, on the date the request is received by the Department.

2. B. Within the administrative completeness review time-frame for each type of approval in Table 3.1, the Department shall:

   1. 1. Provide a notice of administrative completeness to an applicant; or
   2. 2. Provide a notice of deficiencies to an applicant, including a list of the missing information or documents.

3. C. If the Department provides a notice of deficiencies to an applicant:

   1. 1. The administrative completeness review time-frame and the overall time-frame are suspended from the date of the notice of deficiencies until the date the Department receives the missing information or documents from the applicant;
   2. 2. If the applicant submits the missing information or documents to the Department within the time-frame in Table 3.1, the substantive review time-frame begins on the date the Department receives the missing information or documents; and
   3. 3. If the applicant does not submit the missing information or documents to the Department within the time-frame in Table 3.1, the Department shall consider the application withdrawn.

4. D. Within the substantive review time-frame for each type of approval in Table 3.1, the Department:

   1. 1. Shall approve or deny an applicant’s request;
   2. 2. May make a written comprehensive request for additional information or documentation; and
   3. 3. May make supplement requests, if the applicant agrees to allow the Department to submit supplemental requests for additional information and documentation.

5. E. If the Department provides a written comprehensive request for additional information or documentation or a supplemental request to the applicant:

   1. 1. The substantive review time-frame and the overall time-frame are suspended from the date of the written comprehensive request or supplemental request until the date the Department receives the information and documents requested; and
   2. 2. The applicant shall submit to the Department the information and documents listed in the written comprehensive request or supplemental request within 10 working days after the date of the written comprehensive request or supplemental request.
6. F. During the substantive review time-frame, the Department shall, for each initial, supplemental, or renewal application that the Department determines is complete and demonstrates that the applicant and service site comply with the requirements in A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 21 and the applicable Section of this Article, by 60 calendar days after the application submission date established in this Article, determine a health service priority according to R9-15-306(A).

7. G. The Department shall issue:

   1. 1. An approval for an applicant to participate in the Behavioral Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program when:

      1. a. The applicant and the applicant’s service site comply with the applicable requirements in A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 21 and this Article; and
      2. b. The applicant has a health care priority according to R9-15-306 that makes the applicant eligible for available loan repayment funds according to R9-15-301; or

   2. 2. A denial to an applicant, including the reason for the denial and the appeal process in A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10, if:

      1. a. The applicant does not submit all of the information and documentation listed in a written comprehensive request for additional information and documentation or a supplemental request within the time-frame in Table 3.1;
      2. b. The Department determines that the applicant or the applicant’s service site does not comply with the applicable requirements in A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 21 and this Article; or

      3. c. The Department determines that the applicant and the applicant’s service site comply with the requirements in A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 21 and this Article, but:

         1. i. There are no loan repayment funds available for the applicant;
         2. ii. Except as specified in R9-15-302(F), for an initial application, the applicant’s service site employs two other applicants approved to participate in the Behavioral Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program; or
         3. iii. Except as specified in R9-15-302(F), for an initial application, the applicant’s employer employs four other applicants approved to participate in the Behavioral Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program.
8. H. If the Department issues a denial based on the determination in subsection (G)(2)(c), the Department shall include in the denial, a notice that, depending on the availability of Behavioral Health Loan Repayment funds, the applicant may reapply to participate in the Behavioral Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program according to R9-15-304(B)(1).

9. I. If the Department issues an approval for an applicant to participate in the Behavioral Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program according to subsection (G)(1), the applicant is approved to participate for:

   1. 1. Two years, for an application submitted according to R9-15-302(B) or R9-15-304(C); and
   2. 2. One additional year, for an application submitted according to R9-15-303(B).
10. J. The Department shall determine the effective date of a loan repayment contract after receiving acceptance from an applicant following the Department’s notice of approval in subsection (G)(1).

Table 3.1. Time-frames (in calendar days)

Historical Note

New Table 3.1 Time-frames, following R19-15-305 made by emergency rulemaking at 28 A.A.R. 3684 (December 2, 2022), with an immediate effective date of November 15, 2022; effective for 180 days (Supp. 22-4). Table 3.1 amended and emergency renewed at 29 A.A.R. 1274 (June 2, 2023), with an effective date of May 14, 2023; effective for an additional 180 days (Supp. 23-2). Emergency expired on November 11, 2023, effective November 11, 2023 through December 5, 2023; new Table 3.1 made by final rulemaking at at 29 A.A.R. 3837 (December 22, 2023), with an immediate effective date of December 6, 2023 (Supp. 23-4).

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 2823, effective August 9, 2001 (Supp. 01-2). Section repealed by final exempt rulemaking under Laws 2015, Ch. 3, § 8, at 22 A.A.R. 851, effective April 1, 2016 (Supp. 16-1). New Section R9-15-305 made by emergency rulemaking at 28 A.A.R. 3684 (December 2, 2022), with an immediate effective date of November 15, 2022; effective for 180 days (Supp. 22-4). Section amended and emergency renewed at 29 A.A.R. 1274 (June 2, 2023), with an effective date of May 14, 2023; effective for an additional 180 days (Supp. 23-2). Emergency expired on November 11, 2023, “Repealed” Section reinstated and effective November 11, 2023 through December 5, 2023; new Section R9-15-305 made by final rulemaking at at 29 A.A.R. 3837 (December 22, 2023), with an immediate effective date of December 6, 2023 (Supp. 23-4).