We applaud Attorney General Nick Ferguson for joining 23 other states in challenging new federal limits on student loan eligibility for critical health professions. Nurses, physician assistants and other frontline caregivers are the backbone of our health care system, and policies that limit access to financial aid threaten to weaken the workforce our communities depend on.
The Department of Education’s rule narrows the definition of “professional degree,” cutting the amount of federal student loan funding available to many aspiring nurses and health professionals. Limiting access to these loans disproportionately affects students most in need of support, including those from rural and lower-income backgrounds.
Nurses are critical in caring for patients every day. The path to becoming a nurse or other health professional is rigorous and costly, and policies that restrict loan availability erect barriers when workforce shortages are already straining care delivery. Fewer students entering these fields means fewer caregivers at the bedside, impacting patient access for everyone.
WSHA has consistently advocated for policies that strengthen the health care workforce. We raised concerns with Washington’s congressional delegation, mobilized members through action alerts and submitted formal comments to the agency earlier this year.
Protecting access to education for future health professionals is essential to ensuring patients receive the care they need, when and where they need it.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Barton True
WSHA Senior Vice President, Rural and Federal Issues and Advocacy
[email protected]