SPARC Act
Sponsored By: Representative Joyce (PA)
Introduced
Summary
Would create a federal loan repayment program to recruit specialty physicians and non-physician specialty providers to rural shortage areas. The program would run two separate tracks for physicians and other specialty clinicians and require multi-year service in designated rural shortage areas.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Loan relief for rural specialists
This bill would set up a loan repayment program for medical specialists who work in rural shortage areas. It would pay principal and interest on eligible federal loans at one-sixth per year for five years and pay the rest after year six, up to $250,000 total. You would need to serve full time for six years, with no more than a one‑year gap between covered years. Only non‑primary‑care providers would qualify, and you could not get federal loan forgiveness from two programs for the same service. If you break the agreement, the Secretary could set damages, but good‑faith partial service would not by itself be a breach.
Funding authority for rural specialist program
If enacted, the government would be allowed to fund this program from fiscal year 2025 through 2034 as needed. Congress would still need to provide the actual money each year.
Limits for non‑physician specialist awards
If enacted, no more than 15% of this program’s yearly funds could go to non‑physician specialists. If you are a non‑physician specialist and use this program, you could not also use other federal health‑care loan forgiveness for the same service.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Joyce (PA)
PA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in