SPARC Act

The SPARC Act creates a federal loan repayment program to address specialty healthcare shortages in rural areas. It provides up to $250,000 in repayment for specialty physicians (like cardiologists or geriatric specialists) and non-physician providers (like specialized nurse practitioners) who agree to work full-time for six years in designated rural communities with provider shortages. Participants must use the funds for eligible federal student loans (including Direct Stafford and Perkins loans) and cannot combine this program with other federal loan forgiveness. The program includes limits on non-physician provider funding (capped at 15% of annual funds) and requires annual reporting on program impact and provider locations.