---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 254f–1"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "254f–1"
heading: "Priorities in assignment of Corps personnel"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/254f-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part D — Primary Health Care"
  - "Subpart ii — national health service corps program"
---

# §254f–1. Priorities in assignment of Corps personnel

- (a) **In general—** In approving applications made under [section 254f of this title](/usc/42/254f.md) for the assignment of Corps members, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall—
  - (1) give priority to any such application that—
    - (A) is made regarding the provision of primary health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to a health professional shortage area with the greatest such shortage; and
    - (B) is made by an entity that—
      - (i) serves a health professional shortage area described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-1-A);
      - (ii) coordinates the delivery of primary health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) with related health and social [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
      - (iii) has a documented record of sound fiscal management; and
      - (iv) will experience a negative impact on its capacity to provide primary health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) if a Corps member is not assigned to the entity;
  - (2) with respect to the geographic area in which the health professional shortage area is located, take into consideration the willingness of individuals in the geographic area, and of the appropriate governmental [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or health entities in the area, to assist and cooperate with the Corps in providing effective primary health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a); and
  - (3) take into consideration comments of medical, osteopathic, dental, or other health professional societies whose members deliver [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to the health professional shortage area, or if no such societies exist, comments of physicians, dentists, or other health professionals delivering [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to the area.
- (b) **Establishment of criteria for determining priorities—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall establish criteria specifying the manner in which the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) makes a determination under [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A) of the health professional shortage areas with the greatest such shortages.
  - (2) **Publication of criteria—** The criteria required in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall be published in the Federal Register not later than July 1, 1991. Any revisions made in the criteria by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall be effective upon publication in the Federal Register.
- (c) **Notifications regarding priorities—**
  - (1) **Proposed list—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall prepare and publish a proposed list of health professional shortage areas and entities that would receive priority under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) in the assignment of Corps members. The list shall contain the information described in [paragraph (2)](#c-2), and the relative scores and relative priorities of the entities submitting applications under [section 254f of this title](/usc/42/254f.md), in a proposed format. All such entities shall have 30 days after the date of publication of the list to provide additional data and information in support of inclusion on the list or in support of a higher priority determination and the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall reasonably consider such data and information in preparing the final list under [paragraph (2)](#c-2).
  - (2) **Preparation of list for applicable period—** For the purpose of carrying out [paragraph (3)](#c-3), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall prepare and, as appropriate, update a list of health professional shortage areas and entities that are receiving priority under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) in the assignment of Corps members. Such list—
    - (A) shall include a specification, for each such health professional shortage area, of the entities for which the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) has provided an authorization to receive assignments of Corps members in the event that Corps members are available for the assignments; and
    - (B) shall, of the entities for which an authorization described in [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) has been provided, specify—
      - (i) the entities provided such an authorization for the assignment of Corps members who are participating in the Scholarship [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
      - (ii) the entities provided such an authorization for the assignment of Corps members who are participating in the Loan Repayment [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); and
      - (iii) the entities provided such an authorization for the assignment of Corps members who have become Corps members other than pursuant to contractual obligations under the Scholarship or Loan Repayment [Programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).

      The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may set forth such specifications by medical specialty.

  - (3) **Notification of affected parties—**
    - (A) **Entities—** Not later than 30 days after the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) has added to a list under [paragraph (2)](#c-2) an entity specified as described in [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A) of such paragraph, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall notify such entity that the entity has been provided an authorization to receive assignments of Corps members in the event that Corps members are available for the assignments.
    - (B) **Individuals—** In the case of an individual obligated to provide [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) under the Scholarship [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), not later than 3 months before the date described in [section 254m(b)(5) of this title](/usc/42/254m.md?p=b-5), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall provide to such individual the names of each of the entities specified as described in [paragraph (2)(B)(i)](#c-2-B-i) that is appropriate for the individual’s medical specialty and discipline.
  - (4) **Revisions—** If the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) proposes to make a revision in the list under [paragraph (2)](#c-2), and the revision would adversely alter the status of an entity with respect to the list, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall notify the entity of the revision. Any entity adversely affected by such a revision shall be notified in writing by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of the reasons for the revision and shall have 30 days from such notification to file a written appeal of the determination involved which shall be reasonably considered by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) before the revision to the list becomes final. The revision to the list shall be effective with respect to assignment of Corps members beginning on the date that the revision becomes final.
- (d) **Limitation on number of entities offered as assignment choices in Scholarship Program—**
  - (1) **Determination of available Corps members—** By April 1 of each calendar year, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall determine the number of [participants](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-11) in the Scholarship [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) who will be available for assignments under [section 254f of this title](/usc/42/254f.md) during the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) year beginning on July 1 of that calendar year.
  - (2) **Determination of number of entities—** At all times during a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) year, the number of entities specified under [subsection (c)(2)(B)(i)](#c-2-B-i) shall be—
    - (A) not less than the number of [participants](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-11) determined with respect to that [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) year under [paragraph (1)](#d-1); and
    - (B) not greater than twice the number of [participants](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-11) determined with respect to that [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) year under [paragraph (1)](#d-1).

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 333A, as added and amended Pub. L. 101–597, title I, § 104, title IV, § 401(b)[(a)], Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3015, 3035; Pub. L. 107–251, title III, § 304, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1646; Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(h), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2022.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2003—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 108–163 substituted “30 days from such notification” for “30 days”.

2002—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(1), struck out “, as determined in accordance with subsection (b) of this section” after “such shortage”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(2), (7), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b). Text read as follows: “In making a determination under subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section of the health professional shortage areas with the greatest such shortages, the Secretary may consider only the following factors:

“(1) The ratio of available health manpower to the number of individuals in the area or population group involved, or served by the medical facility or other public facility involved.

“(2) Indicators of need as follows:

“(A) The rate of low birthweight births.

“(B) The rate of infant mortality.

“(C) The rate of poverty.

“(D) Access to primary health services, taking into account the distance to such services.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(7), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (b).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(3), struck out second sentence, which read as follows: “Such criteria shall specify the manner in which the factors described in subsection (b) of this section are implemented regarding such a determination.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(7), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(4)(B), added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2).

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(4)(C), in introductory provisions, substituted “paragraph (3)” for “paragraph (2)” and “prepare and, as appropriate, update a list of health professional shortage areas and entities” for “prepare a list of health professional shortage areas” and struck out “for the period applicable under subsection (f) of this section” after “Corps members”.

Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(4)(A), redesignated par. (1) as (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(4)(D), added par. (3) and struck out heading and text of former par. (3). Text read as follows:

“(A) Not later than 30 days after the preparation of each list under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify entities specified for purposes of subparagraph (A) of such paragraph of the fact that the entities have been provided an authorization to receive assignments of Corps members in the event that Corps members are available for the assignments.

“(B) In the case of individuals with respect to whom a period of obligated service under the Scholarship Program will begin during the period under subsection (f) of this section for which a list under paragraph (1) is prepared, the Secretary shall, not later than 30 days after the preparation of each such list, provide to such individuals the names of each of the entities specified for purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(i) that is appropriate to the medical specialty of the individuals.”

Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(4)(A), redesignated par. (2) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4).

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(4)(E), added par. (4) and struck out heading and text of former par. (4). Text read as follows: “If the Secretary makes a revision in a list under paragraph (1) during the period under subsection (f) of this section to which the list is applicable, and the revision alters the status of an entity with respect to the list, the Secretary shall notify the entity of the effect on the entity of the revision. Such notification shall be provided not later than 30 days after the date on which the revision is made.”

Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(4)(A), redesignated par. (3) as (4).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(7), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d).

Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(5), added subsec. (e) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (e). Text related to limitation on the number of entities offered as assignment choices in the Scholarship Program based on the number of participants available for assignments.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107–251, § 304(6), struck out heading and text of subsec. (f), which related to applicable period regarding priorities in assignment of Corps members.

1990—Pub. L. 101–597, § 401(b)[(a)], substituted reference to health professional shortage area for reference to health manpower shortage area wherever appearing in subsecs. (a) to (c)(1), (d)(1), and (e)(3).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–163 deemed to have taken effect immediately after the enactment of Pub. L. 107–251, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–163, set out as a note under section 233 of this title.