Senate Reintroduces Bills to Support Physician Workforce by Addressing US Student Debt

Lawmakers in the US Senate recently reintroduced two bills aimed at supporting the physician workforce by addressing student debt associated with medical education.

The Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act, introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Boozman (R-AR), would allow borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments without interest until the completion of their programs. The REDI Act was reintroduced in the House of Representatives earlier this month by Representatives Brian Babin, DDS (R-TX) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA). Read the ACS letter of support.

The Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act, introduced by Senators Rosen and Roger Wicker (R-MS), would establish a new loan repayment program allowing specialty physicians who agree to practice in a rural area for 6 years to have up to $250,000 of their student loans forgiven. Read the ACS letter of support. Lawmakers are expected to introduce a House companion to the SPARC Act in the coming weeks.