The American Academy of Physician Associates condemned the Education Department’s Nov. 6 ruling to exclude PAs from higher federal student loan borrowing, saying the decision will negatively affect patients and future PAs.
The Education Department has concluded its negotiated rulemaking session on federal student loan changes advanced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July. Through the law, the Education Department eliminated the Grad PLUS program, which is federal aid for graduate and professional students, and capped annual loans at $20,500 for graduate students (an aggregate limit of $100,000) and $50,000 for professional students (an aggregate limit of $200,000).
Physician associates are excluded from eligibility for higher federal student loan limits, according to a Nov. 7 AAPA statement. The organization said PAs are among the fastest growing healthcare professions in the U.S., and the cap will deter future PAs from entering the profession and worsen the nation’s healthcare workforce shortages.
“This is not just a blow to future PAs, it is a dangerous setback for patients — for parents seeking care for a sick child, for seniors struggling with long wait times, and for patients navigating cancer diagnoses or chronic illness,” the organization said, advocating for the Education Department to “fix this proposal as it advances through the regulatory process.”
The AAPA represents nearly 190,000 physician associates and physician assistants across the U.S., according to its website.
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