Primary Care Program (PCO)

Assists communities in improving access to primary healthcare in Georgia’s rural and urban underserved areas
Partners with the Georgia Association for Primary Healthcare, Inc. (PCA) (www.gaphc.org)
Helps plan for new and/or expanded community health centers (CHCs)
- Policy Information Notices & Program Assistance Letters - Updated 8/28/08
- Primary Health Care - The Health Center Program - Updated 8/28/08
- Starting a Rural Health Clinic - A How-To Manual - Updated 8/28/08
Assesses primary care needs and shares data and resources
Assists communities in applying for federal designation for assistance with recruiting of healthcare providers (www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/shortage/index.htm)
- Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation types
  - Primary Care
  - Dental
  - Mental Health
- Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) categories of designation types
  - Geographic – areas eligible for a 10 percent additional incentive payment in Medicare reimbursements for outpatient care
  - Population – poverty, low income, Medicaid-eligible, migrant and homeless
  - Facility
- Medically Undeserved Areas/Populations (MUAs)
- Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs)
Partners with Federal entities to assist underserved communities with recruiting and retaining physicians and other allied-health professionals:
- National Health Service Corps (NHSC) (nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/) helps HPSA communities develop, recruit and retain physicians and other allied-healthcare personnel through federal loan repayment and scholarship programs
- Facilitates Georgia’s J-1 Visa Waiver Program, a state/federal partnership sponsoring international medical graduates (IMGs) in J-1 immigration status. To check the status of a J-1 Visa Waiver, please go to http://travel.state.gov/
  
  J1 Visa Policy - Updated 2/14/07
  J1 Visa Application - Updated 2/14/07
  Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) - Updated 8/28/08
  The National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNET) - Updated 8/28/08
Primary Care Access Plan
Georgia Enumeration Study - Updated 10/17/08