Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 195 - GEORGIA BOARD FOR HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
Chapter 195-11 - SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Rule 195-11-.13 - Service Obligation and Board Approval of Practice Location

(1) The initial scholarship award and each subsequent annual renewal of the scholarship award requires a one year service obligation upon completion of the recipient's graduate medical education. The scholarship recipient is required to practice medicine on a fulltime basis (at least 40 hours per week) in a practice location approved by the Board in an area of this state which is rural or underserved by primary care physicians as determined by the Board, in a regional area of this state composed of rural counties where an unmet need for certain primary care and other critical need specialty physicians exists as determined by the Board and approved by the commissioners of Community Health and Public Health, or in a medical facility operated by or under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Juvenile Justice. For the primary care specialties of family medicine, general internal medicine, and general pediatrics, rural and underserved area is defined as a rural county in Georgia of 50,000 population or less according to the United States decennial census of 2010 or any future such census or an area of this state which is rural and underserved by primary care physicians as determined by the Board. For scholarship recipients receiving awards prior to July 1, 2014, practice locations for Obstetrics/Gynecology and other critical need specialties include regional areas composed of counties located in rural Georgia where an unmet need for physicians exists as determined by the Board and approved by the commissioners of Community Health and Public Health.

(2) The scholarship recipient must begin practice in a location approved by the Board within 90 days of completion of graduate medical education.

(3) Counties eligible as practice locations shall be determined on the basis of the county population published in the official census of the United States for the decade in which the recipient's initial scholarship award contract was signed. Regional areas shall be determined by the Board, and approved by the Commissioners of Community Health and Public Health, on the basis of where an unmet need for Obstetrics/Gynecology and other critical need specialties exist.

(4) Payment of the service obligation of the scholarship contract is calculated on the basis of one year (12 calendar months) of service for the initial scholarship contract, and one year of service for each renewal scholarship contract. Credit toward meeting the service obligation is calculated on a daily basis from the date the recipient begins practice in a Board approved practice location.

(5) Leave of absence for more than 7 weeks (35 workdays) per year from the medical practice for medical, personal, formal education, or other reasons is not credited toward meeting the service obligation of the contract. Vacation, holidays, and time for continuing medical education shall not be construed to be "leave of absence" unless it extends past the 7 week period.

(6) Board approval in writing is required for all practice locations the recipient selects to meet the service obligation of the scholarship contract.

(7) Recipients may change practice locations with written approval of the Board.

(8) The recipient must submit an annual report in order to receive credit toward meeting the service obligation of the scholarship contract. The annual report shall include the following information:

(9) Board staff may conduct on-site visits of the recipient's medical practice location in order to verify compliance with scholarship contract requirements.

(10) Board staff will provide an annual report to the recipient to document completion of the service obligation of the scholarship contract.

(11) The scholarship recipient must accept Medicaid and Medicare and actively treat patients on both of these programs.