AAMC Submits Comments to Protect Student Aid for Health Professions and Medical Students

Ahead of the comment deadline on the Department of Education's notice of implementation of student aid provisions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), the AAMC submitted responses both independently and in coalition with partners across the health professions and higher education communities.

In an Aug. 22 letter, the AAMC submitted an individual response to the department highlighting key issues affecting medical school borrowers (PDF). Additionally, the AAMC led a coalition of health professions organizations, physician groups, and other concerned entities in an Aug. 28 letter urging the secretary of Education to preserve the existing exemption to statutory loan limits for health professions students (PDF). In a separate response, the AAMC joined another Aug. 28 joint letter (PDF) to raise broader concerns from the higher education community regarding the implementation of the law, including a request to the secretary to delay implementation of new loan limits until July 1, 2027. The AAMC also joined an Aug. 25 letter, alongside the health professions education community, urging the department to provide guidance on the determination of programs under the "professional" category related to loan limits (PDF). 

In addition to formal comments, learners at AAMC-member institutions wrote to the department in support of maintaining the health professions loan limit exemption. Hundreds of current medical students, prospective students, and medical residents responded, sharing their concerns directly with the department on regulations.gov. 

The department announced its intention to establish two negotiated rulemaking committees to develop regulations for the federal student financial assistance programs in July [refer to Washington Highlights, Aug. 8]. The department's Reimagining and Improving Student Education Committee, which will discuss policies related to loan limits, will begin its negotiated rulemaking session starting on Sept. 29.