On October 2, ASE joined dozens of other physician organizations in a letter to Senators Rosen and Wicker and Representatives Joyce and Ross expressing robust support for the Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act (S. 1380/H.R. 4681). This legislation would establish a loan repayment program of up to $250,000 over six years to incentivize specialty physicians to practice in rural communities facing critical physician shortages, with non-metropolitan areas projected to experience a 60 percent physician shortage by 2037.

Publishing date

October 24, 2025