Unless otherwise indicated in this subtitle, MIEMSS shall use the following criteria when designating or reverifying specialty referral centers from among those applicant hospitals that apply for designation or reverification and when contracting with out-of-State specialty referral center hospitals: Applicable standards in this subtitle; Patient volume; Geographic coverage; Population; Demonstrated expertise of the professional staff in the specific specialty care area; Active research program focused on specific specialty care area; Competing applications; and New applications.