(1) Application packages, as outlined in Fl. Admin. Code R. 64W-1.004, will only be accepted beginning at 8:00 a.m. (EDT) on the first Monday of October and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (EDT) 10 business days, excluding state holidays or office closures, thereafter. Applications must be mailed to: Florida Department of Health, Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management, State Primary Care Office, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A05, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1720.
    (2) At the close of the application cycle, Department staff will conduct an initial review of the information contained in the application packet. Any application deemed ineligible during the initial review by the Department based on any failure outlined in paragraphs (a) through (d) below will not be recommended to the State Surgeon General (or designee) for sponsorship. An application package will be deemed ineligible if:
    (a) It does not meet the eligibility requirements in Fl. Admin. Code R. 64W-1.003
    (b) It does not include all application requirements in Fl. Admin. Code R. 64W-1.004,
    (c) It is submitted by any method other than mail as specified in subsection (1) above,
    (d) Is not received within the timeframes stipulated in subsection (1) above, or
    (3) Correspondence and/or communication between employers, physicians, or attorneys with Department staff will not take place during the initial review and prioritization of applications.
    (4) After final approval by the State Surgeon General (or designee), Department staff will notify each applicant on his or her sponsorship status by email. This shall occur on or before December 31 of each year, unless the condition in subsection (5) below occurs. The Department will send sponsorship application packets to the USDOS, on or before December 31 of each year, unless the condition in subsection (5) below occurs.
    (5) In the event the total number of applications deemed eligible by the Department during the initial review is fewer than 30 for sponsorship, applications received during the application cycle, as outlined in subsection (1) above, that were deemed ineligible will be notified by email of the deficits in their application package.
    (a) All additional documentation must be received on or before 15 business days, excluding state holidays or office closures, from the date of the Department’s deficiency notice. All updated applications will be evaluated based on the scoring priorities provided in Fl. Admin. Code R. 64W-1.005 in order to bring the total number sponsored to 30.
    (b) All applicants whose application was deemed eligible during the initial review will be notified of sponsorship status on the same day that the deficiency notices are sent.
Rulemaking Authority Florida Statutes § 381.4018(3). Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 381.4018. History-New 8-12-21, Amended 10-24-22.