A Priority Applicant is a:

1.   Provider re-contracting with SLRP

2.   Priority provider working at a priority practice site (described above)

3.   Priority provider working in a non-priority practice site

4.   Non-priority provider working in a priority practice site

Priority applicants have preference over non-priority applicants in the SLRP selection process.

Re-contracting Preference:

Providers in good standing who apply to re-contract with SLRP for an additional year's service obligation, have preference over all other applicants in the SLRP selection process.

Double Priority Preference:

Priority providers practicing at priority practice sites, a double priority, will receive preference over priority providers working at a non-priority practice sites and over non-priority providers working at priority practice sites, a single priority.  For example a dentist working at a Federally Qualified Health Center, a double priority, will have preference over a dentist working at a non-priority clinic.

Lottery Number Assignment:

The SLRP Office randomly assigns lottery numbers to all applicants, including priority applicants.  In the event the SLRP Office receives more priority applicants with equal preference than can be funded with State and Federal appropriations, priority applicants will be selected based on the lowest remaining randomly-assigned lottery number. 

Waiting List:

SLRP applicants not initially selected for the type of contract for which they have applied, will be placed on a Waiting List for that type of contract.  Applicants on the Waiting List will be offered contracts as candidates already selected decline participation or are determined to be ineligible for the program.  Selection of applicants from the Waiting List will be based on the SLRP selection criteria and process.

Application and Selection Process Rules:

1.                   You may apply for only one type of SLRP contract:

·         Competitive Contract;

·         Local Match Contract; or,

·         CMH/DOC State Match Contract.

2.                   SLRP Providers must clearly indicate the type of contract for which they are applying at the top of the first page of Part A of their SLRP Provider Application. 

3.                   Local Match Contract and CMH/DOC State Match Contract applicants compete for the same pool of Federal funds.  However, mental health care providers may only apply for CMH/DOC State Match Contracts and have preference over all other priority and non-priority applicants for these Federal matching funds.

4.                   Any priority or non-priority applicant who applies for a Local Match Contract, is selected and then declines, will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list for Competitive Contracts, without benefit of their lottery number or any preferences regarding provider or practice site priority. (This does not apply to mental health care provider applicants, because they may only apply for CMH State Match Contracts.)

SLRP Selection Process by Type of Contract

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) reserves the right to modify its SLRP provider selection process at any time in response to Michigan's changing health care provider needs.  The SLRP Office will, however, make every attempt to post a current and accurate description of the selection process on this website before each SLRP application period.

Competitive Contracts: (50% Federal Funds/50% State Funds)

Competitive Contracts are funded with an equal amount of Federal and State funds.  The amount of funds available for Competitive Contracts is the sum of all available State funds and an equal amount of Federal funds awarded for the same year.

Priority applicants have preference in the selection for Competitive Contracts.  Mental health care providers cannot apply for Competitive Contracts.

All priority applicants applying for Competitive Contracts will be offered Competitive Contracts before non-priority applicants applying for Competitive Contracts.  Providers who wish to re-contract with SLRP, as well as those with a double priority, will receive preference over those with a single priority.   

More Priority Applicants than Competitive Contract Funding:

If the number of priority applicants exceeds the number of Competitive Contracts that can be funded, single priority candidates will be selected based on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.  Priority and non-priority applicants who do not initially receive a Competitive Contract will be placed on the Competitive Contract Waiting List.    Applicants on the Competitive Contract Waiting List will be offered contracts as candidates already selected decline participation or are determined to be ineligible for the program.  Selection of applicants from the Competitive Contract Waiting List will be based on the SLRP selection criteria and process.

More Competitive Contract Funding than Priority Applicants:

If the number of Competitive Contracts that can be funded exceeds the number of priority applicants who applied for Competitive Contracts, remaining contracts will be awarded to non-priority applicants who applied for them.  Non-priority applicants will be selected for remaining Competitive Contracts based on the lowest remaining, randomly assigned lottery number.

More Competitive Contract Funding than Priority and Non-Priority Applicants:

If the number of Competitive Contracts that can be funded exceeds the number of priority and non-priority applicants who applied for Competitive Contracts, remaining contracts will first be awarded to priority applicants and then non-priority applicants who applied for, but were not offered Local Match Contracts.  Priority applicants will be selected based on their priority status and the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.  Then, non-priority applicants will selected based on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.

CMH/DOC State Match Contracts: (50% Federal Funds/50% CMH/DOC State Match Funds)

CMH/DOC State Match Contract applicants share the same pool of Federal funds as Local Match Contract applicants.  The amount of Federal funds available for CMH/DOC State and Local Match Contracts is equal to the amount by which each year's Federal Grant Award exceeds State funds.  That is Federal funds - State funds = Federal funds available for CMH/DOC State and Local Match Contracts.

Only eligible mental health care providers may apply for CMH/DOC State Match Contracts.  Mental health care providers may only apply for CMH/DOC State Match Contracts, but have preference over all other priority and non-priority applicants applying for Local Match Contracts, which share the same pool of Federal funds.  Psychiatrists and doctoral level psychologists will receive preference over other eligible mental health care providers in the selection process.

More Mental Health Care Applicants than CMH/DOC State Match Contract Funding:

If the number of mental health care applicants exceeds the number of CMH/DOC State Contracts that can be funded, applicants other than those who wish to re-contract with SLRP, as well as psychiatrists and doctoral level psychologists, will be selected based on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.

More Local and CMH/DOC State Match Funding than Mental Health Care Applicants:

If the pool of Federal funds shared by Local Match and CMH/DOC State Match applicants exceeds the amount necessary to award CMH/DOC State Match Contracts to all mental health care providers who apply, the remaining funds will be used to award Local Match Contracts to non-mental health care applicants.  See Local Match Contracts below.

Local Match Contracts: (50% Federal Funds/50% Local Match Funds)

Non-mental health care priority and non-priority applicants will be selected for Local Match Contracts once all mental health care applicants have been awarded CMH/DOC State Match Contracts, which share the same pool of Federal funds as Local Match Contracts. 

All priority applicants who applied for Local Match Contracts will be offered Local Match Contracts before non-priority applicants who applied for Local Match Contracts.  Applicants with a double priority will receive preference over those with a single priority. 

More Priority Applicants than Local Match Contract Funding:

If the number of priority applicants exceeds the number of Local Match Contracts that can be funded, single priority candidates will be selected based on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number. 

Priority and non-priority applicants who do not initially receive a Local Match Contract will be placed on the Local Match Contract Waiting List.  Applicants on the Local Match Contract Waiting List will be offered contracts as candidates already selected decline participation or are determined to be ineligible for the program.  Selection of applicants from the Local Match Waiting List will be based on the SLRP selection criteria and process.

More Local Match Contract Funding than Priority Applicants:

If Local Match Contract funding exceeds the number of priority applicants who applied for Local Match Contracts, remaining contracts will be awarded to non-priority applicants who applied for Local Match Contracts, based on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number. 

More Local Match Contract Funding than Priority and Non-Priority Applicants:

If the number of Local Match Contracts that can be funded exceeds the number of priority and non-priority applicants who applied for Local Match Contracts, remaining contracts will first be offered to priority and then to non-priority applicants who applied for, but were not offered Competitive Contracts.  Priority applicants will be selected based on their priority status and the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.  Then, non-priority applicants will selected based on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.

Please note: Any priority or non-priority applicant who applies for a Local Match Contract, is selected and then declines, will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list for Competitive Contracts, without benefit of their lottery number or any preference regarding provider or practice site priority.

SLRP Practice Site Application and Declaration of Intent:

Employers interested doubling a portion of their recruitment and retention funds through a Local Match Contract, must mail a completed SLRP Practice Site Application & Declaration of Intent to the SLRP Office.  They must sign the signature block under Part A-Number 1, indicating a "Match Contract Contribution Election".  Only Provider Applications having a corresponding SLRP Practice Site Application & Declaration of Intent with a clear Match Contract Contribution Election will be considered as applications for Local Match Contacts.  All provider applications lacking this election on its corresponding SLRP Practice Site Application & Declaration of Intent will automatically be considered an application for a Competitive Contract.

Please remember that providers must still include an updated SLRP Practice Site Application & Declaration of Intent as part of their Complete, Single-submission, SLRP Application Package.