(a) There is established medical debt repayment awards for eligible participants selected under the Physician Recruitment and Retention Education Debt Repayment Program. Prior to the initial consideration of applications for the awards, the Board, in conjunction with the Committee, shall determine health professional shortage areas by establishing a Physician Specialty Priority Listing based on the greatest medical need of the community, with the Board having final approval. The list shall be updated every two (2) years, and shall be posted on the websites of the Department of Public Health and Social Services, the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, and the University of Guam. The Committee shall provide a written report and analysis on the basis of each Physician Specialty Priority Listing recommended to the Board, and shall post said report and analysis with the Physician Specialty Priority Listing. The awards provided in this Chapter are subject to the following limitations:

(1) the applicant must be an eligible credentialed health professional, and must have a degree in a health care program, and have completed an approved graduate training program, and have a current and valid license to practice such health profession in Guam by the time of execution of contract; and

(2) the applicant must not owe any form of service obligation for health professional service to the federal government, any state, or other entity unless that obligation will be completely satisfied prior to the beginning of service under this Program. If the applicant has been awarded funds under Chapter 15 of Title 17, Guam Code Ann., for the individual’s approved graduate training program, the individual shall not be eligible until he or she fulfills his or her service obligations required under Chapter 15 of Title 17, Guam Code Ann..

(b) The Committee shall select participants of the awards based upon criteria that shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

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(1) Applicant training. The individual’s training is in a health profession or specialty needed to fulfill a health professional shortage area.

(2) Applicant qualifications. The individual’s academic standing, prior professional experience in a medically underserved area or health personnel shortage area, board certification, residency achievements, peer recommendations, depth of past residency practice experience, and other criteria related to professional competence or conduct.

(3) Applicant service commitment.

(A) The individual’s commitment to serve in Guam;

(B) the availability of the individual for service, with highest consideration being given to individuals who will be available for service at the earliest dates; and

(C) the length of the individual’s proposed service obligation to be contracted, with greatest consideration being given to persons who agree to serve for longer periods of time.

(4) Applicant residency. First priority shall be given to individuals who have resided on Guam for a period of not less than ten (10) consecutive years in such individual’s life time. Should no applicants meet the residency requirement, the Board may grant an award to applicants who do not meet the residency requirement as required within this Subsection, subject to meeting all other requirements under this Chapter. Proof of residency shall be determined through providing the Committee and the Board any two (2) of the following that would constitute ten (10) consecutive years of Guam residency:

(A) Copies of filed income tax returns of the applicant or copies of the applicant’s parent(s) income tax returns in which the applicant was claimed as a dependent that were filed with the Department of Revenue and Taxation for a period of ten (10) consecutive years;

(B) Certification from the Director of Revenue and Taxation of the applicant’s income tax returns filed for a period of ten (10) consecutive years;

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(C) Certified statement from the Guam Election
Commission on voter registration for five (5) general elections;

(D) Statement of mortgage on principal residence from a financial institution over a consecutive ten (10) year period; or

(E) Official school transcripts from schools attended on
Guam for a period not less than five (5) years.

2013 NOTE: Pursuant to P.L. 32-024:2 (May 6, 2013) which renamed the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) to the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, all references to DMHSA were altered to the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center.