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S. 3746Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Stopping Doctor Shortages Act

Sponsored by Dianne FeinsteinSen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Introduced May 14, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:22 PM UTC

The Stopping Doctor Shortages Act amends the Higher Education Act to broaden eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. It adds a new category of full‑time health‑care practitioners who work at nonprofit or public hospitals and other health facilities, but who cannot be hired directly by those facilities because state law prohibits it. The change aims to encourage doctors to serve in underserved areas by making their student loans eligible for forgiveness. It affects doctors and other health‑care professionals employed in such settings.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the definition of eligible employment for Public Service Loan Forgiveness to include full‑time health‑care practitioners working at nonprofit or public hospitals or other health‑care facilities.
  • Specifies that the new eligibility applies when the practitioner provides medical services at such facilities and is prohibited by state law from being employed directly by the facility.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2455)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

May 14, 2020

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 14, 2020

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2455)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

May 14, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 14, 2020

II

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3746

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 14, 2020

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Cornyn, and Ms. Harris) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include certain employment as a health care practitioner as eligible for public service loan forgiveness, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stopping Doctor Shortages Act.

2.

Amendments to terms and conditions of public service loan forgiveness

Section 455(m)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(C)

Full-time professionals engaged in health care practitioner occupations

The term full-time professionals engaged in health care practitioner occupations includes an individual who—

(i)

has a full-time job as a health care practitioner;

(ii)

provides medical services in such full-time job at a nonprofit hospital or public hospital or other nonprofit or public health care facility; and

(iii)

is prohibited from being employed directly by such hospital or other health care facility by State law.

.