The Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act was introduced in the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 7th. The bill, H.R. 6393, is bipartisan and co-sponsored by Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Billy Long (R-MO). The legislation would provide a path to loan forgiveness for qualifying healthcare workers who work in jobs that are critical to public health and safety or other government functions. The bill has been met with praise from the National Nurses United and National Physicians Alliance, which say that healthcare workers need relief from crushing debt loads in order to provide quality care to the public. This is not the first time that lawmakers have tried to address the plight of frontline health workers who have difficulty paying off student loans. In 2015, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Protecting Health Care Professionals From Repayment of Student Loans Act, but it failed to get out of committee. If you are a frontline health worker who is struggling with student loan debt, please consider contacting your representatives and urging them to support the Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers
What is the Frontline Health Worker Student Loan Forgiveness Act?
The Frontline Health Worker Student Loan Forgiveness Act, also known as the SHARE Act, was introduced in the 115th Congress and would provide student loan forgiveness for frontline health workers. The bill has been endorsed by organizations such as the American Public Health Association and National Nurses United.
Frontline health workers are often the first to encounter disease and injury, which means they are in a unique position to help prevent illness and injury. They also face unique challenges, such as high rates of burnout and exposure to hazardous environments. These factors make frontline health workers an important part of public health systems.
According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, frontline health workers are more likely than other nurses to experience work-related injuries and psychological distress. As a result, student loan debt is a significant financial barrier for these nurses. The SHARE Act would provide student loan forgiveness for frontline health workers who have completed at least 100 hours of qualifying nursing service in a clinical setting.
This initiative would not only help stem the tide of worker debt, but it would also promote public health by recruiting dedicated nurses into the workforce. In addition to student loan forgiveness, the SHARE Act would provide financial support for continuing education requirements related to nursing care delivery.
Read More: The Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Is In Peril – Court Rules It’s IllegalHow does the act work?
The Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act was introduced in the House of Representatives on September 13, 2017, by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA). The act would provide a pathway to student loan forgiveness for frontline health workers who work in areas of public health at agencies designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
This pathway would be available to healthcare workers who meet certain requirements, including receiving a qualifying offer from their agency, working 100% in an eligible position, and making three consecutive years of qualifying contributions. Eligible positions would include positions that are directly related to public health, including but not limited to epidemiology; environmental or occupational health; communicable diseases control; nutrition; mental health counseling and support; substance abuse treatment and prevention; injury prevention and control; birth defects monitoring; reproductive health epidemiology or education.
The bill has been met with criticism from some who feel that it is unnecessary because many medical professionals already have debt forgiveness programs available through their employers. Others argue that this type of bill is important because it will help to keep frontline public health workers in the field and make sure that vital information is being collected.
Who qualifies for student loan forgiveness?
The Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act, or H.R. 3992, was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 15th by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA). The legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide student loan forgiveness for students who work full-time in a designated health field for a specified period of time.
Currently, student loan borrowers are eligible for up to $50,000 in loan forgiveness after 10 years of continuous employment in a qualifying occupation. The Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act would increase the limit to $75,000 and extend the qualifying period to 20 years.
Students who qualify for student loan forgiveness through the current program must commit to working full-time in a designated health field for at least two years after completing their education. The Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act would expand eligibility to students who have completed an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in a health field and have been employed full-time in that field for at least two consecutive years immediately prior to applying for forgiveness.
This bill has been endorsed by organizations like National Nurses United, which has called it “the most important piece of pro-worker legislation currently before Congress.” With more than 1 million people working in healthcare settings as frontline workers, this legislation is sure to create many jobs and help struggling families meet their financial obligations.
What are the requirements for student loan forgiveness?
There are a few things you need to meet before student loan forgiveness is available to you. The first is that you must have made a qualifying contribution to your loan while working in a public health field. Secondly, the government needs to determine that the job was in fact related to public health. Lastly, the forgiven debt must have been incurred as a direct result of your work in public health.
If all of these requirements are met, then you may be eligible for student loan forgiveness. There are many different programs available, so it’s important to do some research and find out what might be best for you.
When does the act take effect?
Under the Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act, certain healthcare workers, such as nurses, doctors, and pharmacists, would be eligible to have their student loans forgiven. The act was passed in December 2018 and is set to take effect on July 1, 2020. To qualify for forgiveness under this act, the healthcare worker must have dedicated at least two years of their career to frontline health workers, which includes but is not limited to direct patient care or working in a medically underserved area. Additionally, the healthcare worker must meet other requirements including having made 120 monthly loan payments while employed in frontline health work and being actively employed at the time of application.
Conclusion
If you work as a frontline health worker, you may be eligible for student loan forgiveness under the Frontline Health Worker Act. This act was created to help improve the quality of care that frontline health workers provide and to promote occupational stability for these workers. If you are interested in learning more about this program or if you think that you may be eligible, please contact your servicer or visit the Department of Labor website to find out more.
