1. (1) All proposed practice location(s) must be an existing practice location in Washington state for at least 12 months prior to application submittal.
2. (2) All proposed practice location(s) provided in the application will be counted toward the maximum number of sponsorships allotted as described in WAC 246-562-095 (6)(a).

3. (3) Any proposed practice location(s) must be located in:

   1. (a) A federally designated primary care HPSA(s) in Washington state; or
   2. (b) A federally designated mental health HPSA(s) in Washington state for psychiatrists applications.
4. (4) Local, state, or federal institutions that are federally designated with a facility designation may request state sponsorship. Physician services may be limited to the population of the institution. All other state and federal requirements must be met.
5. (5) If the practice location is not located in a federally designated HPSA or a state correctional or psychiatric institution, then the applicant must apply for a Flex waiver.

6. (6) Successful Flex waiver applicants must be able to document:

   1. (a) Their practice location's service area and to what extent they provide services to residents of surrounding designated HPSAs;
   2. (b) The percentage of the sponsored physician's patient panel reasonably expected to be medicaid and medicare patients given current use of the service and practice location by those populations;
   3. (c) How the applicant will ensure access to this physician for low-income or uninsured patients;
   4. (d) If there is a unique practice area or substantial referral network making the physician a statewide resource for certain medical conditions; and
   5. (e) If the physician has language skills that will benefit patients at the practice location.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.185.040. WSR 24-18-072, § 246-562-070, filed 8/29/24, effective 10/1/24. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.185.040 and P.L. 110-362. WSR 16-17-060, § 246-562-070, filed 8/12/16, effective 10/1/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.185 RCW and Public Law 108-441. WSR 06-07-035, § 246-562-070, filed 3/8/06, effective 4/8/06. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.185 RCW. WSR 98-20-067, § 246-562-070, filed 10/2/98, effective 11/2/98.]