POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT

(a) The department shall adopt rules necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including guidelines for: (1) developing contracts under which loan reimbursement or stipend recipients provide services to qualifying communities; (2) identifying the duties of the state, state agency, loan reimbursement or stipend recipient, and medically underserved community under the loan reimbursement or stipend contract; (3) determining a rate of interest to be charged under Section 487.555(e)(2); (4) ensuring that a loan reimbursement or stipend recipient provides access to health services to participants in government-funded health benefits programs in qualifying communities; (5) encouraging the use of telecommunications or telemedicine, as appropriate; (6) prioritizing the provision of loan reimbursements and stipends to health professionals who are not eligible for any other state loan forgiveness, loan repayment, or stipend program; (7) prioritizing the provision of loan reimbursements and stipends to health professionals who are graduates of health professional degree programs in this state; (8) encouraging a medically underserved community served by a loan reimbursement or stipend recipient to contribute to the cost of the loan reimbursement or stipend when making a contribution is feasible; and (9) requiring a medically underserved community served by a loan reimbursement or stipend recipient to assist the department in contracting with the loan reimbursement or stipend recipient who will serve that community. (b) The department by rule may designate areas of the state as medically underserved communities. (c) The department shall make reasonable efforts to contract with health professionals from a variety of different health professions.