PUBLIC LAW 94-484—OCT. 12, 1976 area for which no health systems agency has been designated, the State health planning and development agency (designated under section 1521) of the State in which such part is located, an opportunity to review the application and submit to the Secretary its comments respecting the need for, and proposed use of, the Corps member requested in the application. "(c) In considering, and giving approval to, applications made under this section for the assignment of Corps members, the Secretary shall— "(1) give priority to an application which provides for the assignment of Corps members to an area, population group, medical facility, or other public facility with the greatest health manpower shortage, as determined under criteria established under section 332(b); "(2) give special consideration to an application which provides for the use of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or expanded function dental auxiliaries; "(3) take into consideration the willingness of individuals in the area or population group, or at the medical facility or other public facility, and of the appropriate governmental agencies or health entities, to assist and cooperate with the Corps in providing effective health services; and "(4) take into consideration comments of medical, osteopathic, dental, or other health professional societies serving the area, population group, medical facility, or other public facility, or, if no such societies exist, comments of physicians, dentists, or other health professionals serving the area, population group, medical facility, or other public facility. "(d) The Secretary shall assign Corps members to entities in health manpower shortage areas without regard to the ability of the individuals in such areas, population groups, medical facilities, or other public facilities to pay for such services. "(e) In making the assignment of a Corps member to an entity in a health manpower shortage area which has had an application approved under this section, the Secretary shall seek to assign to an area a Corps member who has (and whose spouse, if any, has) those characteristics which are characteristics which increase the probability of the member's remaining to serve the area upon completion of his assignment period. "(f)(1) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to a public or nonprofit private entity which is located or has a demonstrated interest in a health manpower shortage area and which desires to make an application under this section for assignment of a Corps member to such area. "(2) The Secretary shall provide, to public and nonprofit private entities which are located or have a demonstrated interest in a health manpower shortage area to which area a Corps member has been assigned, technical assistance to assist in the retention of such member in such area after the completion of such member's assignment to the area. " (3) The Secretary shall provide, to health manpower shortage areas to which no Corps member has been assigned, (A) technical assistance to assist in the recruitment of health manpower for such areas, and (B) current information on public and private programs which provide assistance in the securing of health manpower. "(g) The Secretary shall conduct, or enter into contracts for the conduct of, studies of the methods of assignments of Corps members
90 STAT. 2273
42 USC 300m.
Contracts; studies.
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