Legis Daily

SPARC Act

USA119th CongressHR-4681| House 
| Updated: 7/23/2025
John Joyce

John Joyce

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (3)
Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Brittany Pettersen (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)

Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care Act" (SPARC Act) amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a new loan repayment program. This initiative is designed to encourage specialty medicine physicians to serve in rural communities that are experiencing a shortage of such medical professionals. The program also provides for the optional inclusion of non-physician specialty health care providers . Under this program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration, will enter into agreements with eligible participants. In exchange for loan repayment, participants must commit to a six-year period of obligated full-time service in a designated rural community experiencing a shortage. For each year of service, one-sixth of the principal and interest on eligible loans will be repaid, with the remainder paid after the sixth year, up to a maximum of $250,000 per individual. Eligible loans encompass those for education in specialty medicine or healthcare, alongside various federal student loans such as Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Perkins Loans. The bill explicitly states that participants cannot receive benefits from this program concurrently with other specified federal loan forgiveness programs for the same service. While a liquidated damages formula may be established for breaches, failure to complete the full service period is not considered a breach if good faith service was rendered for payments received. The bill stipulates that no more than 15 percent of the program's funds may be allocated to non-physician specialty health care providers, who are also ineligible for other federal healthcare-specific loan forgiveness programs. Furthermore, the Secretary is mandated to report to Congress every two years, beginning five years after enactment, on the program's impact on specialty care availability in rural communities and the practice locations of participants.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-2761
SPARC Act
Apr 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-1380
Introduced in Senate
Jul 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-2761
    SPARC Act


  • April 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-1380
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 23, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Health

Related Bills

  • S 119-1380: SPARC Act

SPARC Act

USA119th CongressHR-4681| House 
| Updated: 7/23/2025
The "Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care Act" (SPARC Act) amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a new loan repayment program. This initiative is designed to encourage specialty medicine physicians to serve in rural communities that are experiencing a shortage of such medical professionals. The program also provides for the optional inclusion of non-physician specialty health care providers . Under this program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration, will enter into agreements with eligible participants. In exchange for loan repayment, participants must commit to a six-year period of obligated full-time service in a designated rural community experiencing a shortage. For each year of service, one-sixth of the principal and interest on eligible loans will be repaid, with the remainder paid after the sixth year, up to a maximum of $250,000 per individual. Eligible loans encompass those for education in specialty medicine or healthcare, alongside various federal student loans such as Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Perkins Loans. The bill explicitly states that participants cannot receive benefits from this program concurrently with other specified federal loan forgiveness programs for the same service. While a liquidated damages formula may be established for breaches, failure to complete the full service period is not considered a breach if good faith service was rendered for payments received. The bill stipulates that no more than 15 percent of the program's funds may be allocated to non-physician specialty health care providers, who are also ineligible for other federal healthcare-specific loan forgiveness programs. Furthermore, the Secretary is mandated to report to Congress every two years, beginning five years after enactment, on the program's impact on specialty care availability in rural communities and the practice locations of participants.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-2761
SPARC Act
Apr 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-1380
Introduced in Senate
Jul 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-2761
    SPARC Act


  • April 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-1380
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 23, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
John Joyce

John Joyce

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (3)
Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Brittany Pettersen (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)

Energy and Commerce Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • S 119-1380: SPARC Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted