Bill > HR4681

This bill creates a loan repayment program designed to encourage specialty medicine physicians and certain non-physician specialty healthcare providers to work in rural communities experiencing shortages of specialized medical services. Under the program, participants can receive up to $250,000 in loan repayments in exchange for a 6-year commitment to work full-time in a qualifying rural community. Eligible loans include federal education loans for specialty medical training, and participants can receive one-sixth of their loan principal and interest repaid for each year of service, with the final year's payment covering the remainder of their loan. The program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration and is specifically targeted at physicians and providers practicing in specialties beyond primary care. Non-physician providers are limited to receiving no more than 15% of the program's annual funding, and participants cannot simultaneously receive benefits from other federal loan forgiveness programs. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to report to Congress every two years on the program's impact and the practice locations of participating providers. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2025 through 2034 to support the implementation of this loan repayment initiative.