The department will prioritize the communities found eligible for participation in the program to assure that the neediest communities are provided grants. The prioritization process will quantify indicators of need (not listed in any assigned priority order) which may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  (1) no practicing primary care physicians;
  (2) with only one primary care physician and a population of at least 2,000;
  (3) no federally or state-funded primary care clinic;
  (4) no practicing physician assistants or nurse practitioners;
  (5) the participating physician will be the only physician practicing in one of the primary care specialties;
  (6) large minority population, if the participating physician is a member of the same minority group;
  (7) designation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a primary care health professional shortage area for at least the last five years;
  (8) a population-to-primary care provider ratio in the top 25% of all counties in the state;
  (9) poverty rates above the state average; and
  (10) median family incomes at least 25% below the state average.

Source Note: The provisions of this §30.165 adopted to be effective January 1, 2015, 39 TexReg 10395