Academy Joins National Push for Inclusive Loan Rules for Health Professions

Late last month, the Academy signed onto a letter to the Department of Education and the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) rulemaking committee urging an inclusive definition of “professional degree program” under H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Authored by the Patient Access to Responsible Care Alliance (PARCA), a coalition of healthcare organizations with which the Academy partners on federal initiatives. Currently, federal regulations define professional degrees such as medicine, law, and pharmacy. While some PARCA member professions are included, many others, including audiology, are not explicitly named. The coalition argues that these programs meet the same rigorous standards, requiring post-baccalaureate education, clinical training, and state licensure or certification.

Addressing the implementation of H.R. 1, the letter calls for an inclusive definition of “professional degree program” for purposes of federal student loan limits. The unintended consequences of excluding certain health professions from the definition could lead to lower loan limits for students in those programs, discouraging enrollment and worsening provider shortages. Without a clear and inclusive definition, federal regulations could inadvertently favor certain health professions over others, creating inequities in access to financial aid. This imbalance could reduce patient access and choice, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Key Recommendations from the Letter:

• Adopt a clear and inclusive definition of “professional degree program” that covers any master’s or doctoral degree generally required for licensure or certification in health professions.
• Use Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes to identify eligible programs.
• Ensure equal treatment in loan eligibility, borrowing limits, and repayment programs across all health professions.

The letter emphasizes that ambiguity in defining eligible programs could jeopardize financing for future health professionals, threatening workforce supply at a time when demand for care continues to grow. The Academy remains committed to advocating for the inclusion of audiology programs to ensure equitable access to federal loan limits for future audiologists.

Last week, after almost four days of negotiations, the Department moved to a vote on the current state of the regulatory changes. After considering the compromises offered by the Department and the remaining unresolved issues, all negotiators approved the current proposed regulatory language, except for the negotiator representing military veterans, who abstained. Because negotiators reached consensus, the Department of Education committed to including the agreed-upon language in its proposed rule.

The department intends to post the proposed rule in early 2026 followed by a 30-day public comment period. Members of the public can submit written comments that support areas of compromise reached or suggest further changes to the proposed rule. The final rule is expected to take effect on July 1, 2026, unless otherwise dictated by H.R.1.

The Academy will monitor the proposed rule and submit comments during the open 30-day comment period.