On March 2, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) and 39 co-signers submitted a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Education commenting on a proposed rule that would narrow the definition of which graduate programs qualify as “professional degrees” for federal student loan purposes, affecting how much students in certain health fields may borrow.
“Finalizing this rule could make graduate education less affordable and disrupt health workforce pipelines, potentially discouraging students from entering essential health and human-services professions,” GIH President and CEO Cara V. James wrote in the letter. “Excluding these degrees could limit access to advanced training, exacerbate workforce shortages, and increase health inequities across the country.”
The letter noted that public health professionals, social workers, and behavioral health professionals are essential to patient care and outcomes, as their work addresses the social, behavioral, and environmental factors fundamentally shaping health, and that constraining this crucial workforce will directly affect patient access to care, care coordination, and health outcomes.
It also highlighted the importance of nurses, physician assistants, dental hygienists, and other providers affected by the proposed rule. These professionals are often in short supply, and limiting access to federal loans in those fields will worsen access to care and the quality of care provided in underserved areas, especially rural communities.
The signatories closed by urging the Department of Education to broaden the definition of professional degrees to include these essential health professions.
Almost 65,000 comments on this proposed regulation were submitted to the federal register, an unusually high amount that indicates broad interest in the issue. GIH will continue to monitor the administration for opportunities to engage with public comments on rulemaking in the future.