This bill, known as the "IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2025," amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to introduce greater flexibility for healthcare professionals. Its primary purpose is to allow individuals who receive Indian Health Service scholarships or participate in loan repayment programs to fulfill their service obligations by working half-time in clinical practice. For scholarship recipients , opting for half-time service means they must agree to double the period of obligated service that would otherwise be required for full-time practice. Similarly, participants in the loan repayment program can choose half-time clinical practice, which either doubles their service period or provides a reduced loan payment amount for a two-year commitment. The legislation also specifies that in cases of contract breach, half-time service periods will be converted to their full-time equivalents for damage calculation, aiming to support the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in Indian health programs.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-21.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 74.
Native Americans
Education programs fundingGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHigher educationIndian social and development programsMedical educationTemporary and part-time employment
IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-632| Senate
| Updated: 5/12/2025
This bill, known as the "IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2025," amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to introduce greater flexibility for healthcare professionals. Its primary purpose is to allow individuals who receive Indian Health Service scholarships or participate in loan repayment programs to fulfill their service obligations by working half-time in clinical practice. For scholarship recipients , opting for half-time service means they must agree to double the period of obligated service that would otherwise be required for full-time practice. Similarly, participants in the loan repayment program can choose half-time clinical practice, which either doubles their service period or provides a reduced loan payment amount for a two-year commitment. The legislation also specifies that in cases of contract breach, half-time service periods will be converted to their full-time equivalents for damage calculation, aiming to support the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in Indian health programs.
Education programs fundingGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHigher educationIndian social and development programsMedical educationTemporary and part-time employment