ICYMI – Wisconsin Joins Lawsuit Over Federal Rule on Student Loan Access for Healthcare Professionals
As we highlighted in our December 10, 2025 Care Connection, last Fall, the US Department of Education (DOE) put forward changes to the limits on student loans for professional degree seekers and finalized their rules on May 1st. DOE’s changes mean that these degree seekers would be subject to a $20,500 annual and $100,000 total cap, programs defined as professional degrees have a $50,000 annual limit and $200,000 total cap for borrowers. Some health care degrees which did not receive the designation “professional degree” include advanced practice nursing, occupational therapy, and the doctor of physical therapy degree.
AHCA/NCAL has been advocating with the Department of Education and lawmakers in Washington, to change this decision so that these healthcare professionals are able to access these needed loans before the change takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Last week, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, joined a coalition of 25 other states I filing a lawsuit against the Department of Education to prevent this rule from being implemented, highlighting the access issues created by the lower loan limits and its implications to make our healthcare workforce shortages worse.
