283—17.2(256) Awarding of funds.

1. 17.2(1)  Award designations. The commission will establish the number of awards and maximum award amounts for each eligible health care profession prior to the fiscal year in which applications will be accepted and awards obligated.
2. 17.2(2)  Selection criteria. All eligible applicants will be considered for an award. Awards will be prioritized within each eligible health care profession according to subrule 17.2(3).

3. 17.2(3)  Priority for awards. If funding is insufficient to award all eligible applicants, new awards will be made to eligible applicants in order of the following priority categories:

   1. a. Eligible applicants who are in their final year of a program of study or of a clinical or residency program that leads to their full license to practice on a full-time basis as an eligible health care professional in an eligible practice area. If funds are insufficient to award all eligible applicants meeting these criteria, eligible applicants will be further prioritized by the date of application.
   2. b. Eligible applicants who are fully licensed eligible health care professionals but who agree to continue or begin full-time practice as eligible health care professionals on a full-time basis in eligible practice areas within six months of signing a program agreement. If funds are insufficient to award all eligible applicants meeting these criteria, eligible applicants will be further prioritized by the date of application.
   3. c. Eligible applicants who are in their final year of a program of study or clinical or residency program that leads to their full license to practice on a part-time basis as an eligible health care professional in an eligible practice area. If funds are insufficient to award all eligible applicants meeting these criteria, eligible applicants will be further prioritized by the date of application.
   4. d. Eligible applicants who are fully licensed eligible health care professionals but who agree to continue or begin full-time practice as eligible health care professionals on a part-time basis in eligible practice areas within six months of signing a program agreement. If funds are insufficient to award all eligible applicants meeting these criteria, eligible applicants will be further prioritized by the date of application.

4. 17.2(4)  Awarding process.

   1. a. The commission will provide notice of the eligibility criteria, the anticipated number of awards to be made in each eligible health care profession, the maximum award amount in each eligible health care profession and the application process annually.
   2. b. The commission will collect applications, designate eligible applicants for awards and notify applicants of their eligibility.
   3. c. The commission will track eligible applicants selected to receive awards through completion of their obligation. An obligation is satisfied if completed according to the criteria in Iowa Code section 256.222 and this rule.
   4. d. Upon verifying completion of the obligation with the eligible health care professional’s employer on an annual basis, the commission will pay the annual award.

[ARC 0049D, IAB 2/4/26, effective 3/11/26]