IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
In Committee
Summary
Allows half-time clinical practice to satisfy Indian Health Service scholarship and loan-repayment service obligations.
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- Indian Health Professions Scholarship recipients could fulfill required service either by full-time practice or by half-time practice if they agree in writing to double the period of obligated service.
- Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program participants would get three alternative structures: a minimum 2-year full-time option, a 4-year or longer half-time option that equals the full-time obligation, or a 2-year half-time option paid at 50 percent of full-time repayment.
- Private practice can qualify only if the Secretary determines it serves health professional shortage areas and Indian health needs. If someone fails to begin or complete a half-time period the bill converts that time to its full-time equivalent to determine breach-of-contract damages.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New service options for Indian Health students
If enacted, this bill would let Indian Health Service scholarship and loan recipients meet service obligations in new ways. Scholarship recipients could serve full-time for IHS, tribal contract programs, Title V programs, or in approved private practices in shortage areas. They could instead serve half-time if they agree in writing to double the service period. Loan repayment participants would get three option types: (1) at least 2 years full-time, (2) 4 years (or more) half-time with time set to equal the full-time equivalent if longer service was agreed, or (3) 2 years half-time with loan payments equal to 50% of the full-time payment. Full-time and half-time use the Public Health Service Act definitions. Any half-time service would be converted to its full-time equivalent to set breach-of-contract damages if the person fails to start or finish.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Cosponsors
Markwayne Mullin
OK • R
Sponsored 2/19/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov