SECTION 310:526-3-4. Procedures for administering the Program

  The Program shall develop dental loan repayment procedures as may be necessary to carry out the administration of the Program. The Program shall delineate the following procedures:

(1)   Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSA). Dental health professional shortage areas for Oklahoma shall be established by the Commissioner using the following criteria.

(A)   The percentage of Medicaid enrollees receiving dental services each year.

(B)   The ratio of the number of Medicaid enrollees under the age of 21 per Medicaid dental provider.

(C)   The ratio of the number of Oklahoma residents in the general population under age 21 per Oklahoma licensed general practice or pediatric dentist.

(2)   Applications. All interested new dental school graduates shall file an application with the Department. This application can be submitted at any time during the year. Applications may be printed from the internet or are available in the Dental Service office of the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

(3)   Approval by the Department. Applications shall be reviewed by the Advisory Committee. Following this review, the Advisory Committee will forward their recommendations to the Department. Applications will be approved or declined as determined by the Department.

(4)   Renewal of loan repayment contracts. The original loan repayment contract may be renewed for up to a total participation in the Program of five (5) years, contingent upon funding from the Legislature and continued approval of the Department based upon the dentist's performance and recommendations of the Advisory Committee if requested.

(5)   Advisory Committee. The Department will appoint and convene an Advisory Committee to assist in the dental loan repayment process. The Advisory Committee shall include five (5) members with representation from the Oklahoma Dental Association, the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, and the Oklahoma oral health coalition. The Advisory Committee is responsible for reviewing the eligible applicants, as determined by the Department, and making recommendations to the Department. The Department makes the final selection of Program participants.

[Source: Added at 24 Ok Reg 203, eff 11-1-06 (emergency); Added at 24 Ok Reg 1983, eff 6-25-07; Revoked at 32 Ok Reg 1790, eff 9-11-15]