The AAMC and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine led a letter on behalf of 46 physician groups to House (PDF) and Senate (PDF) leadership as well as relevant higher education committees to express concerns about provisions proposed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) to eliminate the Grad PLUS program, impose new aggregate limits on direct loan borrowing, and limit eligibility to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program for physician residents.
The letter urged Congress to reconsider these provisions, noting the reliability of physician borrowers and the role these programs play in maintaining the pathway for high-quality health care providers in every community. “The country continues to face shortages of physicians in communities nationwide. Therefore, we call on Congress to ensure that any forthcoming legislation does not threaten access to medical education or exacerbate the physician workforce shortage by eliminating the Grad PLUS program, imposing limits on borrowing, or limiting eligibility for the PSLF program. We urge you to maintain and enhance these essential loan and forgiveness programs to improve the health of people everywhere.”
The AAMC also sent a June 4 letter outlining priorities related to the budget reconciliation process, which highlighted clinical priorities, the importance of preserving programs that increase access to medical school, and other key issues [refer to related story].
- Washington Highlights