Radiology pushes for congressional relief from medical school debts
Radiology and other specialties are urging federal lawmakers to provide relief for physicians hampered by the heavy burden of medical school debt.
Over 40 physician, dental and other healthcare organizations recently wrote to members of Congress to express their concerns. The American College of Radiology, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and others are asking politicians to pass the previously proposed Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act.
The legislation would allow physicians-in-training to qualify for interest-free deferment of their student loans while serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.
“As Congress considers policies to improve healthcare access and affordability as well as strengthen the nation's workforce, the REDI Act represents restoration of a targeted, bipartisan solution that corrects an inequity in graduate medical and dental education financing,” health groups wrote to the heads of key congressional committees on Sept. 10. “We respectfully urge the 119th Congress to advance this important legislation.”
ACR highlighted its advocacy push in a news update to members, published on Sept. 24. The college notes that physicians carry massive amounts of debt into residency but earn modest salaries during training. This while interest continues to accrue, increasing loan balances before a physician can enter practice.
Recent changes to federal student loan programs are only increasing financial pressures on medical students. Since July 1, new federal borrowing caps for graduate and professional students and the elimination of the Graduate PLUS loan program have “significantly reduced” the financing options available to future medical students.
“We recognize that the goal of these changes is to reduce tuition costs, but until this occurs–if at all–these policies are expected to increase the financial burden on many students pursuing careers in medicine and dentistry, making it even more important to reduce unnecessary debt during required residency and internship training,” the groups wrote. “Preventing interest from accruing during this period is a practical, targeted solution that supports the next generation of physicians and dentists while strengthening the nation's healthcare workforce.”
Others signing the message included the American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, American College of Cardiology and the American Medical Association, among others. Members of Congress introduced the REDI Act several times before, including in 2024, 2023 and 2022, but it failed to find passage. The REDI Act would not provide loan forgiveness, nor reduce the borrower’s original loan balance, those involved noted previously.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.