SPARC Act

Hozzl · 2026-04-06T18:12:22Z

Explore the details of Senate Bill 1380 SPARC Act currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Health. Stay informed on legislative developments.

4/6/2026, 6:12 PM

Summary of Bill S 1380

The bill, designated as S. 1380 in the 119th Congress and introduced on April 9, 2025, aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a loan repayment program incentivizing specialty medicine physicians to practice in rural areas facing shortages in this field.

Congressional Summary of S 1380

Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care Act or the SPARC Act

This bill establishes student loan repayment programs to support the provision of specialty medical care in rural areas.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must carry out such a program for specialty medicine physicians (i.e., practicing in an area other than primary care) who provide care in rural communities with shortages of such physicians. Physicians must agree to a period of obligated service and, for each year of such service, HRSA must pay one-sixth of the principal payment and interest on eligible loans up to a maximum cap of $250,000. Additionally, HRSA may carry out a similar loan repayment program for nonphysician specialty health care providers.

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Current Status of Bill S 1380

Bill S 1380 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 9, 2025. Bill S 1380 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the Senate on April 9, 2025. Bill S 1380's most recent activity was Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. as of March 19, 2026

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 1380

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 1380

Primary Policy Focus

Health

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 1380

A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a loan repayment program to encourage specialty medicine physicians to serve in rural communities experiencing a shortage of specialty medicine physicians, and for other purposes.