RURAL AREA DESIGNATION

In determining whether to designate an area as a rural area under this chapter, the commissioner shall consider any area that is delineated as an urbanized area by the United States Bureau of the Census and: (1) is contiguous with and not more than 10 miles away from a rural area described by Section 845.002(9)(A) or (B); (2) is sparsely populated, compared to areas within a 10-mile radius that are delineated as urbanized areas by the United States Bureau of the Census; (3) has not increased in population in any single calendar year in the seven years before the commissioner makes the designation; and (4) in which emergency or primary care services: (A) are limited or unavailable in accordance with network access standards imposed by the commissioner; and (B) would be made materially more accessible by allowing access to care in a contiguous area that is otherwise eligible to participate in the system.