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Contact Us |
Fact Sheet | Map |
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Background:
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The Arizona Medically Underserved Area
(AzMUA) designation process began with the identification of
rational service areas
in Arizona where the health service seeking patterns of the local residents
indicate they primarily receive their medical care. The
Primary Care Index
is then used to assign points to each area based on data gathered
from state and federal agencies. A total of 121 possible points are
available for each area.
The AzMUA Bi-Annual Report can be accessed
here. |
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The
AzMUA designation process can be viewed in rule on the Secretary
of State website (Notices of Final Rulemaking 712, 9 A.A.C. 24) starting on page 4 of 102. |
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| Purpose: |
The
AzMUA designation may be used for planning for delivery of primary
care services. The process and conditions for designation are
stipulated in
ARS
§ 36-2352. |
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| Requirements: |
Designation
is based on Federal Primary Care HPSA designation or the application of the
Primary Care Index. The Index consists
of the totaled score for each Primary Care Area of 14 weighted
items including points given for ambulatory
sensitive conditions, provider to population
ratio, transportation score, percentage of population below
poverty, percentage of uninsured births, low birth weight births,
prenatal care, percentage of deaths before the U.S. birth life
expectancy, infant mortality rate, and percent minorities, elderly and
unemployed. |
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| Eligibility: |
A Primary Care Index Score is calculated for each of the Primary Care Areas in Arizona. Primary Care Areas (PCAs) scoring in the top 25% or having a score greater than 55, whichever is greater, are designated as medically underserved. Additionally, by Arizona Statute, all federally designated Arizona Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are also considered AzMUAs.
To determine if a site or an area is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P), visit the Shortage Designation Advisor website. |
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Programs
Using AzMUA Designations
Include: |
Arizona
Medical Student Loan Program
Consideration for
University of Arizona, College of Medicine;
Midwestern
University, College of Osteopathic Medicine; and
A.T. Still University,
School of Osteopathic Medicine applicants
willing to practice in an AzMUA |
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