The AAMC submitted May 17 comments applauding (PDF) the Department of Education’s efforts to provide targeted student debt relief to support medical student borrowers engaged in repayment under the federal student loan programs.
In its comments, the AAMC highlighted efforts to build on prior student debt relief actions to ensure that borrowers obtain the loan forgiveness they are eligible for but may not be receiving due to lack of enrollment in an income-driven repayment plan, being in a noneligible repayment plan, or having loans not federally held. The association noted appreciation of the inclusion of the Health Education Assistance Loans among the types of loans eligible for forgiveness and applauded the addition of language to forgive up to $20,000 in instances in which the borrower’s current balance exceeds the balance when entering repayment, among other language to provide relief to borrowers currently repaying under an extended window. The AAMC urged the department to consider expanding the proposed language to allow for forgiveness parity across all federal student loan borrowers at 20 years of repayment.
The department is expected to publish final rules by Oct. 31.