H.R. 8602House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2022

Introduced July 29, 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 5:06 PM UTC

The Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2022 changes the Higher Education Act to set clear, uniform rules for foreign graduate medical schools that want their students to qualify for U.S. federal student loans. It aims to increase accountability, protect American students, and safeguard taxpayer money by requiring schools outside the United States and Canada to meet specific performance standards. The rules affect foreign medical schools, U.S. students attending them, and the federal loan programs that fund their education.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the eligibility clause for foreign graduate medical schools, requiring at least 60% of enrolled students and graduates to not fall under the restricted category in section 484(a)(5) in the year before a loan is sought.
  • Requires at least 75% of a school’s students or graduates who take the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) exams to achieve passing scores in the year before a loan is sought.
  • Adds an expiration provision so that a foreign school that fails to meet these standards loses its authority to participate in Title IV loan programs starting July 1 of the year after the law’s enactment.
  • Allows students who were enrolled at a school that loses eligibility to continue receiving federal loans, provided they stay enrolled, maintain academic progress, and until they withdraw, complete the program, or the fourth June 30 after the loss of eligibility.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

July 29, 2022

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 29, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

July 29, 2022

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 29, 2022

I

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8602

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 29, 2022

Mr. Burgess introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish fair and consistent eligibility requirements for graduate medical schools operating outside the United States and Canada.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2022.

2.

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to establish consistent eligibility requirements for graduate medical schools operating outside of the United States and Canada in order to increase accountability and protect American students and taxpayer dollars.

3.

Repeal of grandfather provisions

Section 102(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(2)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:

(i)

in the case of a graduate medical school located outside the United States—

(I)

at least 60 percent of those enrolled in, and at least 60 percent of the graduates of, the graduate medical school outside the United States were not persons described in section 484(a)(5) in the year preceding the year for which a student is seeking a loan under part D of title IV; and

(II)

at least 75 percent of the individuals who were students or graduates of the graduate medical school outside the United States or Canada (both nationals of the United States and others) taking the examinations administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates received a passing score in the year preceding the year for which a student is seeking a loan under part D of title IV;

; and

(2)

in subparagraph (B)(iii), by adding at the end the following:

(V)

Expiration of authority

The authority of a graduate medical school described in subclause (I) to qualify for participation in the loan programs under part D of title IV pursuant to this clause shall expire beginning on the first July 1 following the date of enactment of the Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2022.

.

4.

Loss of eligibility

If a graduate medical school loses eligibility to participate in the loan programs under part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) due to the enactment of the amendments made by section 3, then a student enrolled at such graduate medical school on or before the date of enactment of this Act may, notwithstanding such loss of eligibility, continue to be eligible to receive a loan under such part D while attending such graduate medical school in which the student was enrolled upon the date of enactment of this Act, subject to the student continuing to meet all applicable requirements for satisfactory academic progress, until the earliest of—

(1)

withdrawal by the student from the graduate medical school;

(2)

completion of the program of study by the student at the graduate medical school; or

(3)

the fourth June 30 after such loss of eligibility.