Kentuckians need more health care providers. Grad school loan caps won’t help | Opinion

Federal student loans sustained me through college and graduate school. They were especially critical when I sought my master’s degree in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies at the University of Kentucky. As a military veteran with children, I wouldn’t have been able to attend school full-time without them.

Since graduating, I have cared for hundreds, if not thousands, of patients as a cardiology PA, and now, through my doctoral training, I can offer students instruction and mentorship as they prepare to become the next generation of PAs at the University of the Cumberlands.

Sadly, a proposed U.S. Department of Education proposed rule to cap graduate loans for PAs at limits too low to fully cover tuition and other school expenses would devastate the healthcare workforce pipeline.

The proposed rule does this by excluding PAs, NPs, and other non-physicians from graduate programs that it defines as “professional.” By law, a professional program prepares graduates to practice, requires graduate-level education, and leads to licensure. PAs, through their rigorous education and credentialing requirements, clearly meet the legal definition.

If finalized, the new rule will make PA programs in Kentucky and throughout the country too costly for many applicants. Patients will be the ultimate losers, as the number of qualified healthcare providers dwindles — especially in rural areas — and appointment wait times grow longer.

Research has shown that nearly half of Kentucky’s 1,649 PAs serve in areas with primary care provider shortages; 20 percent practice in areas deemed “medically underserved.” And PAs from rural backgrounds are much more likely to practice in rural areas. Those same rural populations will likely be hardest hit by the limits, as potential students from these areas often rely on loans to fund their education.

My practice in London serves patients from many Southeast Kentucky counties. Many of my patients are medically disabled and economically disadvantaged. Because our area experiences frequent physician turnover, PAs and nurse practitioners who specialize in cardiology play a vital, consistent role in patients’ cardiac care.

The loan cap proposal is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s rulemaking process under H.R. 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Regulators argued that the limits would force schools to reduce tuition and fees.

It’s a flawed theory. Cumberlands, for example, is a nonprofit institution with a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility, ensuring tuition remains reasonable and accessible. In the face of rising costs, additional reductions would risk undermining educational quality and student support. Students benefit from small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff who work tirelessly to ensure students’ needs are met. Our graduate students are not charged additional fees beyond tuition and get required textbooks at no extra cost; nonetheless, many still rely on federal student loans to pay for their education.

The proposed loan cap has already had an impact. Some of the students accepted to our program have decided not to enroll. If loan limits are imposed, most of our students will have to take out costlier private loans to cover the full financial burden of their educational journey, which likely includes rent and living expenses necessary for the 27 months of their post-baccalaureate training, in addition to tuition, to become a PA at Cumberland.

None of this needs to happen. Congress can uphold its commitment to address the nation’s healthcare workforce shortage by urging the Department of Education to amend its proposed rule. Thankfully, many leaders, including U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who introduced the Professional Student Degree Act, are speaking out. The bill would codify the definition of “professional degree” to include PAs and other non-physician professions.

My students – the future healthcare professionals – are counting on Congress to protect their right to a graduate education so that they can meet the increasing healthcare needs of our communities.

Dana Campbell is a certified physician assistant in London, KY, specializing in cardiology, and department chair for the University of the Cumberlands Physician Assistant Programs.