WASHINGTON DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced a bill to help increase the number of specialist doctors and other medical specialists in rural communities. The bipartisan Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act will tackle the shortage of physicians in rural communities by creating a student loan repayment program for specialist physicians and other specialist medical professionals practicing in rural areas. Every county in Nevada is experiencing a shortage of medical professionals, and in 2024, Nevada was ranked 45th in the nation with regard to the availability of physicians per 100,000 residents.
“Nevada’s shortage of medical professionals is jeopardizing the ability of families to get the care they need — especially in our rural communities,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “We need new solutions to bring more physicians to all parts of our state, which is why I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to create a student loan repayment program for specialist physicians practicing in rural areas. I’ll keep working to address the medical provider shortage crisis Nevada is facing.”
“The entire nation is dealing with a physician shortage, and rural communities in Mississippi have been particularly affected. Congress can help provide a solution,” said Senator Wicker. “The SPARC Act would offer targeted incentives to medical professionals who choose to work in underserved towns and cities. I believe this bill will encourage providers to bring their services to areas that need them most.”
“UNLV strongly supports the Specialty Physicians Advancing Care (SPARC) Act, which represents a meaningful investment in rural health care access,” said Chris Heavey, UNLV Officer in Charge, Executive Vice President and Provost. “By providing much-needed loan repayment incentives, this legislation will help recruit and retain specialty physicians and health care providers in underserved rural communities – ultimately improving health outcomes for thousands of Nevadans and Americans across the country. As a leading public research university committed to training the next generation of physicians and health professionals, we applaud Senator Rosen’s leadership in addressing workforce shortages in rural areas through sustainable and equitable solutions.”
Senator Rosen is working to address Nevada’s health care professional shortage and improve medical care access in the state. Last month, Senator Rosen introduced the bipartisan Physicians for Underserved Areas Act, which would revise the graduate medical education process to increase the likelihood of areas with physician shortages getting more medical residency slots after hospital closures take place elsewhere in the country. She also introduced the bipartisan REDI Act to increase the number of doctors and dentists in underserved areas by allowing them to defer student loan payments without interest until the completion of their residency or internship programs. Last month, she introduced the bipartisan Train More Nurses Act to address the nursing shortage affecting communities across the nation.
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