SPARC Act
Sponsored By: Senator Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
In Committee
Summary
Creates a loan repayment program for specialty physicians and non-physician specialty providers to serve rural communities with shortages. It ties payments to a six-year service obligation and caps total payments at $250,000 per participant.
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- Specialty physicians can enroll to have eligible federal education loans repaid in exchange for six years of full-time service in rural shortage areas. Payments are one-sixth of principal and interest each year with the remainder after year six and a $250,000 cap.
- Non-physician specialty providers get a parallel track but are limited to no more than 15% of annual program funding and are not eligible for other federal health provider loan forgiveness for the same service.
- HRSA must update public data on specialty provider supply and report participant practice locations and the program's impact on rural specialty access to Congress at least every other year through FY 2033.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Loan relief for specialty rural providers
If enacted, the bill would create an HRSA loan repayment program for specialty physicians and some specialty providers. You would sign a contract to work full time for six years in a U.S. rural shortage area. For years 1–5 the program would pay one-sixth of your eligible loan principal and interest as of each service year start. After you complete year 6, it would pay the remaining balance, subject to a $250,000 lifetime cap. You would not be eligible for other federal health-care loan forgiveness for the same service. The Secretary would be able to include non-physician specialty providers, but awards to them would be limited to 15% of this program's funds each year. HRSA would update public data on specialty provider supply, and the Secretary would report to Congress starting within five years and then every two years through 2033. The bill would authorize funding for fiscal years 2025 through 2034.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Cosponsors
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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