Physical Therapy Student Loan Repayment Changes Proposed
PT's Speak Out on Educational Debt
Introduced earlier this year, the Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act of 2011 amends the Public Health Service Act to include physical therapy in the definition of "primary health services." The proposed change would make physical therapists eligible for repayment of their student loans under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Although physical therapists have been excluded under this bill, many health professions are covered by legislation that forgives a certain amount of student loan debt for every year of work in an under-served area. Too often, large under-served areas go without comprehensive health and therapy services, so the NHSC has made it a mission to bring access to these areas. This bill would allow up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness per year (for a maximum of 2 years) in exchange for service in a disadvantaged area.
The Act is intended to encourage physical therapists to serve in rural and urban under-served communities, primarily by easing the educational debts of physical therapists who would otherwise find it financially impractical to work in these locations. Ultimately some of these therapists may decide to practice long-term in these locations, once their NHSC service is complete.
In June of this year, approximately 1,000 physical therapists, PTA's and students of physical therapy visited their U.S. Representatives and Senators as part of this year’s PT Day on Capitol Hill. The PT's visited their congressional reps to lobby on legislation that affects the profession. Check out the APTA's video of their visit to DC here:
Looks like becoming part of the political process made for an energizing, inspiring day.
How to Be Heard
As of this writing, the bill was currently under consideration in the House Subcommittee on Health. If you would like to speak out on this legislation (H.R. 1426/S. 975), you can email your congressional representatives directly or through the APTA’s Legislative Action Center by visiting www.apta.org/TakeAction
More Ways to Cope with your Physical Therapy Student Loan and Educational Expenses
Recent physical therapy graduates may also want to consider travel therapy jobs as an effective way to defray the costs of rehab therapy education. Not only are the physical therapist salary and compensation attractive on travel assignments, there are also bonus programs that can make a real difference to the bottom line. Travel therapy jobs are also a low-risk way to try out different clinical settings -- short and long-term rehab therapy assignments are available in metropolitan and rural settings, in rehabilitation clinics, and in teaching hospitals.
Fill out our brief online application or call 800-617-0608, and start exploring your PT career options. American Traveler Allied expert recruiters are standing by to take your phone call.
