1. (1) Applicants for loan repayment will be prioritized from highest to lowest by the following method:

   1. (a) The FRAME Prioritization Score will be computed using a weighted total of 85% of the Adjusted HPSA Score plus 15% of the Service Score, plus 10% of the percentage of the practitioner’s practice that is composed of Medicaid patients (as a whole number, not a percentage), plus the Recruitment Factor, if eligible. Eligible HPSA Scores will be for the applicable discipline (primary care or mental health) as set forth in paragraph 64W-4.001(10)(b), F.A.C.

   2. (b) The Adjusted HPSA Score will be computed by:

      1. (I) WA means the Weighted Average HPSA Score.
      2. (II) H1, H2, H3 etc., mean the number of hours worked per week at each specific location.
      3. (III) S1, S2, S3 etc., mean the HPSA score of each corresponding location.

      4. (IV) T means the total combined weekly hours worked across all locations.

         d. The Final Score is the product of the Total DPCH Points multiplied by the Weighted Average HPSA Score.

      1. For only one practice location: (DPCH points x HPSA score). DPCH points are calculated based on the hours reported on the applicant’s FRAME Employment Verification Form. Hours reported between 1 and 29 shall be assigned 1 point; hours reported between 30 and 39 shall be assigned 2 points; hours reported at 40 or above shall be assigned 3 points.

      2. For multiple practice locations: Applicants providing services at more than one practice location shall be scored using a weighted average of the HPSA scores across all locations, multiplied by the DPCH points assigned to the applicant’s total combined weekly hours.

      a. The total combined weekly hours from all locations shall be used to determine the DPCH points as defined in subsection (1)(b).

      b. The Weighted Average HPSA Score is calculated using the following formula:

      
      

      c. For the purposes of the formula in sub-subparagraph (1)(b)2.b.:

   3. (c) The Service Score will be computed by (end date of application period – date of applicant’s first day with the employer) ÷ 100)). If the applicant works for multiple employers, the applicant’s longest employer’s start date will be used.
   4. (d) The percentage of Medicaid patients at the practice location with the highest number of DPCH will be computed by (Medicaid Percentage (as a whole number) ÷ 10).
   5. (e) The Recruitment Factor is an additional 1 point added to the score if the eligible provider began providing services for their employer in a HPSA after the beginning of the same state fiscal year as the application period. For all others the recruitment factor is 0.

   6. (f) The calculations set forth in paragraphs (1)(a), (b), (c), and (d) above are illustrated in Figure 1 below.

      Figure 1.

      ((DPCH points x HPSA score) × .85) + ((Longest Employment by Days)/100×.15) + (Medicaid Percentage/10) + Recruitment Factor

2. (2) Primary care settings not in a designated HPSA in their discipline (primary care or mental health) will use the HPSA Score of 1 less than the lowest HPSA score in their discipline that was designated on January 15, or the next business day if the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, but not less than zero for the HPSA Score in the computed Adjusted HPSA Score.
3. (3) All HPSA Scores will be the score that was applicable on January 15, or the next business day if the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday.
4. (4) Loan repayment funds will be disbursed directly to lenders.
5. (5) Payments made to a lender cannot exceed a recipient’s outstanding qualified principal loan balance and all payments made by the Department shall only be applied to the recipient’s principal balance.

6. (6) In the event that there are mathematical ties (to the eighth decimal place) in the priority scores where funding will be exhausted, those applicants with a tied priority score will be funded in the following order of precedence:

   1. (a) First, by the highest Adjusted HPSA score as calculated in paragraph (2)(b). In the event this does not resolve the tied priority scores, then
   2. (b) Second, by the highest Medicaid participation percentages as reported on the FRAME Employment Verification Form. In the event this does not resolve the tied priority scores, then
   3. (c) The remaining amount of funding will be equally divided among the tied applicants.
7. (7) All applicants who are prioritized to receive an award will be notified in writing via email to the email address designated in their FRAME Application. Such applicants must complete the award confirmation in the FRAMEworks portal located at https://www.fdohframe.com/s/ within fifteen calendar days of the date the notice is sent. Any applicant that does not confirm their award within the required timeframe will be ineligible to receive an award. Should any awards be declined or become ineligible based on non-responsiveness, the next prioritized applicants will be eligible for an award and upon email notification must confirm such award pursuant to this subsection.

Rulemaking Authority 381.402 FS. Law Implemented 381.402 FS. History–New 4-20-23, Amended 2-15-24, 5-21-25, 6-8-26.