1. (1) To be eligible to receive reimbursement or loan repayment from FRAMEdental, dentists and dental hygienists must:

   1. (a) Be a United States citizen (U.S. born or naturalized) or a United States national, as defined by 8 U.S.C. §1401 – 1440 (1/3/2022), which is incorporated by reference and available at HYPERLINK "https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16376"
      https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16376,
   2. (b) Possess a clear active Florida dental or dental hygiene license,
   3. (c) Be actively employed in a public health program or private practice located in a dental HPSA in Florida and providing direct patient care. The public health program or private practice must have a sliding fee scale program that covers low-income patients,
   4. (d) Have a qualified loan,
   5. (e) Be enrolled as a Medicaid provider and have verifiable Medicaid billing or demonstrate that they have applied to become a Medicaid provider by providing documentation that includes the Medicaid application tracking number,
   6. (f) Have a valid email address for program correspondence, and

   7. (g) Provide at least 25 hours annually of volunteer dental services in a free clinic in a dental HPSA, through a volunteer program operated pursuant to part IV of chapter 110, F.S., or a pro bono program approved by the Board of Dentistry.

      1. Volunteer hours are calculated from January 1 through December 31 of the application calendar year.

      2. Volunteer hours will be verified via the FRAMEdental Volunteer Hours Verification Form, incorporated by reference in paragraph 64W-6.003(1)(d), F.A.C.

      3. If 25 hours of volunteer services have not been completed when the application is submitted, the applicant must:

      a. Complete the FRAMEdental Volunteer Service Obligation Acknowledgment Form, incorporated by reference in paragraph 64W-6.003(1)(e), F.A.C., and

      b. Verify all volunteer hours have been completed by submitting FRAMEdental Volunteer Hours Verification Form(s) through the FRAMEworks portal prior to December 31 of the application calendar year.

      4. If the applicant does not complete the required 25 hours of volunteer hours in the application calendar year:

      a. The applicant will not be eligible for an award in the subsequent calendar year,

      b. The applicant will be subject to the penalties set forth in Rule 64W-6.007, F.A.C., and

      c. After one year of ineligibility, any future application will be considered a new application for the purposes of award prioritization set forth in Rule 64W-6.005, F.A.C.

2. (2) A dentist or dental hygienist is no longer eligible to receive funds under the loan program if the dentist or dental hygienist:

   1. (a) Is no longer employed by a public health program or private practice that meets the criteria of subsection (1) above,
   2. (b) Ceases to participate in or is unable to enroll in the Florida Medicaid program,
   3. (c) Has not submitted verification of volunteer dental services for the required 25 hours per year,
   4. (d) Has disciplinary action taken against his or her license by the Board of Dentistry for a violation of s. 466.028 F.S., or
   5. (e) Has received a FRAMEdental award for 5 different years.
3. (3) This rule will be reviewed and repealed, modified, or renewed through the rulemaking process 5 years from the effective date.

Rulemaking Authority 381.4019 FS. Law Implemented 381.4019 FS. History – New 2-15-24, Amended 5-21-25.