G ove r n men t Re lat ions
Student Loan Forgiveness Legislation
At PDA’s request, Rep. Karen Boback is reintroducing legislation
to increase the amount of funding available for dentists who
enroll in the state’s primary health care practitioner loan
repayment program in exchange for practicing in designated
health professional shortage areas.
This legislation:
• Increases the amount of loan repayment from up to $100,000
to up to $200,000 for a full-time three-year commitment.
• Allows dental specialists to apply for the program.
Currently, the Department of Health’s primary health care
practitioner loan forgiveness program reimburses dentists a
maximum of $100,000 for up to a two-year full-time
commitment to practice in a designated health professional
shortage area. The program is only open to general dentists and
hygienists (who are reimbursed $60,000 for a full-time two-year
commitment). Pennsylvania has more than 85 designated
dental health professional shortage areas.
Rep. Boback is circulating a co-sponsorship memo among her
colleagues in the House. We are asking all of you to contact
your representative and request that he or she sign on as a
cosponsor to this legislation. Your representative just returned
to Harrisburg to conduct legislative business. Now is the perfect
time to call or email your representative’s Harrisburg office to
ask for his or her support for Rep. Boback’ Loan Forgiveness for
Dentists Act. Give them the reasons why this legislation is
needed to attract more dentists in Pennsylvania, especially in
areas where patients have difficulty accessing care.
Need your representative’s contact information? Contact the
government relations staff at (800) 223-0016, extension 108, or
at [email protected]. Or log on to www.legis.state.pa.us and
search under “Find My Legislator.”
STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TALKING POINTS
n More than 90 percent of dental students graduate with some
school debt. The debt amount varies greatly depending on
whether students attend a public or private school. According
to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the
cost of student loan debt has grown over 100 percent in the
last 10 years and the average debt for dental school graduates
is now more than $247,000. More than 75 percent of students
graduate with more than $100,000 in student loans.
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JA NUA RY/F E B R UA RY 2018 | P EN N S YLVA N IA D EN TA L J O U R N A L
n Educational debt impacts postgraduate career planning.
It effects whether dental school graduates pursue specialty
training, enter private practice, work in underserved
communities, enter public service, teach or research.
n There are two overriding concerns related to the cost of
dental education. One is that the rising educational costs and
indebtedness may make a dental career appear unaffordable
and unattractive to prospective students. The second is that
an increase in student debt will prevent new graduates from
treating low-income patients because they cannot accept
such low reimbursement rates.
n The state’s health care practitioner loan forgiveness program
provides loan repayment up to $100,000 for a two-year
full-time commitment from the dentist to service in a
shortage area. This amount is inadequate given the amount
of debt most dental students accumulate.
n PDA supports Rep. Boback’s legislation to increase funding for
dentists in the state’s program and to award more slots to
dentists apply for loan forgiveness in exchange for practicing
in a shortage area. PDA also supports opening the program
up to dental specialists such as endodontists and oral
surgeons. Some counties, particularly rural counties, only
have one or a few specialists.
n Increasing funds in the state’s primary care loan repayment
program improves access to dental care by influencing the
location of some dental practices. The majority of dentists are
small business owners. The price of starting or purchasing a
practice can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. New
dentists with enormous debt will take advantage of financial
incentives such as an increase in student loan repayment.
n Increasing funds in the health practitioner loan forgiveness
program will help new dental graduates who want to
practice in underserved areas but feel they must practice in
more affluent areas of the state in order to establish a solid
patient base and to more quickly pay off their loans.
n Loan repayment has proven successful in strengthening a
community’s overall economy. It encourages dental school
graduates to practice in underserved areas, increasing the
workforce by employing hygienists and assistants and others
who have difficulty finding employment.