Earlier today, AANP kicked off a grassroots campaign to urge all Members of Congress to contact the U.S. Department of Education and request that nurse practitioner programs be included in the definition of a professional degree. This campaign is just one of many ways that AANP has engaged in this issue since H.R. 1 was considered in Congress. By way of background, H.R. 1, which was passed in July, set forth new statutory limits for degrees classified as “graduate”— they will only be eligible for a $20,500 annual limit and a $100,000 lifetime limit in federal student loans (not including undergraduate federal student loans). However, “professional” degree programs will be eligible for a $50,000 annual limit and a $200,000 lifetime limit. It is important to note that H.R. 1 also removed the Grad PLUS federal student loans, which makes these limits impact on future nurse practitioner students, and the communities that rely on nurse practitioners for critically needed access to care even more drastic.
Right now, the Department of Education is in the progress of developing a proposed rule, having already finished the first step of this process, and it is incumbent upon us to register our concern. Before the official proposed rule is released, which we believe is imminent, we have an opportunity to speak with one voice and ask our Members of Congress to weigh inwith the Department.
Please urge all of your organization’s members to use the button below to email their Members of Congress. The AANP Advocacy Center is available to both AANP members and non-members.
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