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Home Research Research Library Impact of Service-Based Student Loan Repayment Program on the Primary Care Workforce Impact of Service-Based Student Loan Repayment Program on the Primary Care Workforce 2023 Topic(s) What Family Physicians Do Volume Annals of Family Medicine Source Annals of Family Medicine PURPOSE: As the average level of medical education indebtedness rises, physicians look to programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to manage debt burden. Both represent service-dependent loan repayment programs, but the requirements and program outcomes diverge, and assessing the relative uptake of each program may help to inform health workforce policy decisions. We sought to describe variation in the composition of repayment program participant groups and measure relative impact on patient access to care. METHODS: In this bivariate analysis, we analyzed data from 10,677 respondents to the American Board of Family Medicine’s National Graduate Survey to study differences in loan repayment program uptake as well as the unique participant demographics, scope of practice, and likelihood of practicing with a medically underserved or rural population in each program cohort. RESULTS: The rate of PSLF uptake tripled between 2016 and 2020, from 7% to 22% of early career family physicians, while NHSC uptake remained static at 4% to 5%. Family physicians reporting NHSC assistance were more likely than those reporting PSLF assistance to come from underrepresented groups, demonstrated a broader scope of practice, and were more likely to practice in rural areas (23.3% vs 10.8%) or whole-county Health Professional Shortage Areas (12.5% vs 3.7%) and with medically underserved populations (82.2% vs 24.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Although PSLF supports family physicians intending to work in public service, their peers who choose NHSC are much more likely to work in underserved settings. Our findings may prompt a review of the goals of service loan forgiveness programs with potential to better serve health workforce needs. Read More ABFM Research Read all 2024 Family Medicine Residents Intentions to Provide Gender Affirming Care Go to Family Medicine Residents Intentions to Provide Gender Affirming Care 2024 Insights From a New National Academies Report on Caregiving Go to Insights From a New National Academies Report on Caregiving 2021 Comparison of Maternity Care Training in Family Medicine Residencies 2013 and 2019: A CERA Program Directors Study Go to Comparison of Maternity Care Training in Family Medicine Residencies 2013 and 2019: A CERA Program Directors Study 2020 The Impact of Practicing Obstetrics on Burnout Among Early-Career Family Physicians Go to The Impact of Practicing Obstetrics on Burnout Among Early-Career Family Physicians
ABFM Research Read all 2024 Family Medicine Residents Intentions to Provide Gender Affirming Care Go to Family Medicine Residents Intentions to Provide Gender Affirming Care 2024 Insights From a New National Academies Report on Caregiving Go to Insights From a New National Academies Report on Caregiving 2021 Comparison of Maternity Care Training in Family Medicine Residencies 2013 and 2019: A CERA Program Directors Study Go to Comparison of Maternity Care Training in Family Medicine Residencies 2013 and 2019: A CERA Program Directors Study 2020 The Impact of Practicing Obstetrics on Burnout Among Early-Career Family Physicians Go to The Impact of Practicing Obstetrics on Burnout Among Early-Career Family Physicians
2024 Family Medicine Residents Intentions to Provide Gender Affirming Care Go to Family Medicine Residents Intentions to Provide Gender Affirming Care
2024 Insights From a New National Academies Report on Caregiving Go to Insights From a New National Academies Report on Caregiving
2021 Comparison of Maternity Care Training in Family Medicine Residencies 2013 and 2019: A CERA Program Directors Study Go to Comparison of Maternity Care Training in Family Medicine Residencies 2013 and 2019: A CERA Program Directors Study
2020 The Impact of Practicing Obstetrics on Burnout Among Early-Career Family Physicians Go to The Impact of Practicing Obstetrics on Burnout Among Early-Career Family Physicians