; or (4) political or other contributions prohibited under section 317(a)(1) of the Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30119(a)(1) ). (b) Payments for capital expenditures (1) In general The Secretary shall pay, from amounts made available for capital expenditures pursuant to section 601(a)(2)(B), such sums determined appropriate by the Secretary to providers who have submitted an application to the regional director of the region or regions in which the provider operates or seeks to operate in a time and manner specified by the Secretary for purposes of funding capital expenditures of such providers. (2) Priority The Secretary shall prioritize allocation of funding under paragraph (1) to projects that propose to use such funds to improve items and services for medically underserved populations and areas described in section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3) ) or to address health disparities, including racial, ethnic, national origin, primary language use, age, disability, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), geography, or socioeconomic health disparities. (3) Limitation The Secretary shall not grant funding for capital expenditures under this subsection for capital projects that are financed directly or indirectly through the diversion of private or other non-Medicare for All Program funding that results in reductions in care to patients, including reductions in registered nursing staffing patterns and changes in emergency room or primary care services or availability. (4) Capital assets not funded by the Medicare for All Program Operating expenses and funds shall not be used by an institutional provider receiving payment for capital expenditures under this subsection for a capital asset that was not funded by the Medicare for All Program without the approval of the regional director or directors of the region or regions where the capital asset is located. (c) Prohibition against co-Mingling operating and capital funds Providers that receive