Medical School Loan Forgiveness Bill Gets Another Shot
Legislation that would forgive medical school loans has been introduced again in the state General Assembly. The Pennsylvania Medical Society strongly supports legislation to relieve the heavy debt burden on physicians.
The Physician Retention Loan Forgiveness Program would forgive 100 percent (up to $75,000) of loans for full-time physicians who agree to practice in the state for 10 years. Part-time physicians would be eligible to have some of their loans forgiven based on how many hours they work.
In both cases, a percentage of the loan would be forgiven each year over a seven-year period.
The program would be open to physicians who are US citizens and are licensed to practice medicine in the commonwealth. Preference would be given to Pennsylvania-trained physicians of any specialty who practice in a medically underserved area and primary care specialists who practice in a primary care shortage area.
Introduced March 2, 2009, by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware),
Senate Bill 527 is currently in the Senate Education Committee. Rep. Matthew Baker (R-Tioga) introduced a similar bill,
House Bill 891, on March 12. It’s currently in the House Health and Human Services Committee.
Similar legislation introduced in 2007 easily cleared the state House of Representatives but stalled in the Senate. The bills would set aside $10 million for the program each year.
Last Updated: 3/18/2009