Bill · H.R. 1127· House(119-HR-1127)
Rural America Health Corps Act
- Introduced
- 2/7/2025
- Last activity
- 2/7/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- David Kustoff
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Rural America Health Corps Act establishes a demonstration program to provide payments on eligible loans. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will oversee the program, which targets individuals eligible for the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Participants must agree to five years of full-time employment in a rural health professional shortage area. Payments are distributed annually based on the outstanding principal and interest, with a final payment upon completion of the fifth year. The total amount of payments for any individual is capped at $200,000.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay?+7
The bill provides direct payments toward the principal and interest of eligible student loans.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill aims to increase the availability of healthcare providers through service in rural shortage areas.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+6
The program incentivizes healthcare providers to work in rural health professional shortage areas.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill authorizes up to $250,000,000 in new federal spending over four fiscal years.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Loan Debt Reduction: The program provides payments on the principal and interest of eligible loans for individuals who agree to serve in rural areas. This offers a way for healthcare workers to reduce their debt through annual payments and a final lump sum after the fifth year (Section 2(b)(1) and 2(b)(2)).
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Support for Rural Healthcare Access: By incentivizing five years of full-time employment in health professional shortage areas that are rural, the program aims to impact health care access in those regions (Section 2(b)(1)(B) and 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Service Obligations: To receive the financial assistance, individuals are required to commit to a five-year period of full-time employment in a rural health professional shortage area (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
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Financial Risk of Breach: If an individual breaches their agreement, the Secretary may use a liquidated damages formula (Section 2(b)(3)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Young Adults+5Good For Middle Class Households+4Good For Low Income Households+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Student Loan Relief+7
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Reduces Government Spending-2
- 4/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/13/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/7/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Nikki BudzinskiDemocrat · Illinois
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Diana HarshbargerRepublican · Tennessee