An urban or rural area, population, or public or private nonprofit medical facility which the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) determines has a shortage of health care professionals. 42 CFR § 5. The Code of Federal Regulations provides the guidelines under which an area can be deemed to have a shortage. The listing of shortage areas is published in the Federal Register. These areas can apply for the assignment of National Health Service Corps personnel. 42 CFR § 23. These laws were enacted as part of the Public Health Service Act which delegated authority to the Secretary to enforce these provisions of the Act. The health professional shortage area is known as areas that have a shortage of health manpower in the Public Health Service Act.