HR 4681119th CongressIn Committee

SPARC Act

Introduced: Jul 23, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13] (R-Pennsylvania)

Technology & Innovation

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care Act (SPARC Act) would create a new loan repayment program under the Public Health Service Act to recruit specialty medicine physicians to rural communities experiencing shortages. It would also allow a parallel program for non-physician specialty health care providers. Participants would commit to a six-year, full-time service period in a rural shortage area, in exchange for annual loan payments and eventual full repayment of their eligible loans, subject to a $250,000 cap per borrower. Non-physician providers would share in the program but with tighter rules (including a 15% annual funding cap for such providers and ineligibility for other federal loan forgiveness programs). The bill, introduced July 23, 2025 in the House (H.R. 4681), would redesignate and insert a new Part G into the Public Health Service Act’s Title VII, authorize ongoing funding through 2034, require periodic reporting to Congress, and require HRSA to maintain up-to-date public data on provider supply. The sponsor is listed as Mr. Joyce (PA) with Ms. Ross as a co-sponsor, and the bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Key Points

1Creation of SPARC loan repayment programs for both:
2- specialty medicine physicians, and
3- non-physician specialty health care providers, to work in rural communities experiencing shortages.
4Payment terms and service commitment:
5- Annual payments equal to 1/6 of the outstanding principal and interest on eligible loans for each year of obligated service.
6- Upon completion of the sixth year, the remaining balance of principal and interest is paid.
7- Maximum total payments per borrower cap at $250,000.
8Eligible loans and service area:
9- Eligible loans include education loans in specialty medicine or health care, various Federal Direct loans (Stafford, PLUS, Unsubsidized, Consolidation), Perkins loans, and other federal loans as determined by the Secretary.
10- Obligation requires a 6-year full-time service commitment in a rural U.S. community experiencing a shortage of specialty medicine physicians or non-physician specialty health care providers, with limited gaps allowed between years.
11Rules for non-physician providers:
12- Non-physician providers are not eligible for other federal health care loan forgiveness programs.
13- No more than 15% of annual program funds may be allocated to non-physician providers.
14Oversight, reporting, and funding:
15- The Secretary must report to Congress at least every two years (beginning five years after enactment through 2033) on practice locations and impact on access to specialty services in rural areas.
16- HRSA must update publicly available data on the supply of specialty physicians and non-physician specialists.
17- There is authorization for appropriations as necessary for fiscal years 2025–2034.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Rural communities experiencing shortages of specialty medicine physicians and non-physician specialty health care providers.- Patients in those communities who need specialty care and who may gain improved access as providers participate.Secondary group/area affected:- Specialty medicine physicians and non-physician specialty providers who would participate in the program.- Rural hospitals, clinics, and health care systems that rely on specialty services.Additional impacts:- Potential effects on the geography and distribution of the health care workforce, particularly in rural areas.- Interaction with existing federal loan forgiveness programs (the SPARC Act would limit “double benefits” and, for non-physician providers, restrict eligibility for other programs).- Budgetary considerations for Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services, given the broad funding authorization through 2034 and the cap per borrower.- Increased data transparency about where specialty providers practice and how loan repayment programs affect access to care in rural communities.This summary reflects the bill as introduced (H.R. 4681, 119th Congress) and does not reflect any amendments that may be added during the legislative process.The sponsor is listed as Mr. Joyce (PA) with Ms. Ross; the bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

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