By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – New federal rules limiting how much students can borrow and restricting repayment options took effect on Wednesday, July 1.
Read more 2 arrested after climbing to the top of Empire State Building, getting engaged
Educators at the University of Arizona worry the changes that come from the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill will worsen an existing healthcare worker shortage in Arizona.
The new rules will affect hundreds of thousands of Arizonans, but healthcare educators said the medical field faces particular risk.
Mari Ricker, a family and community medicine professor at the U of A, said prospective students may reconsider pursuing professional degrees if federal loan access is reduced.
“Folks who are thinking about going into medical school or other schools that are professional are gonna think twice if they have to go to private loans or other resources to pay for their schooling,” Ricker said.
Ricker said Arizona is already short on primary care physicians, and the gap is expected to grow.
“We’re gonna have a shortage of 2,000 needed primary care physicians by the year 2030, so that’s a really significant amount for the entire state,” Ricker said. “Even now, we’re short at least 600 primary care physicians to currently care for the population.”
Ricker said student loans have long been a standard part of financing medical education.
“A majority of the students do take on loans. It’s, you know, professional school is quite expensive, and it’s been a part of sort of the culture of medical training for decades,” she said.
Read more Estranged couple found dead in alleged murder-suicide in north Phoenix
Erin McMahon, director of the U of A’s nurse-midwifery program, said the existing shortage is already affecting Arizonans’ access to care.
“Many Arizonans, even myself, you know, can experience delays in scheduling appointments with providers or getting timely follow-ups, so that’s certainly gonna impact our outcomes and just sort of general health for folks,” McMahon said.
She said it’s especially true in rural areas in the state.
The university is taking steps to increase the number of medical school graduates entering the field. The university is expanding its incoming class size for the upcoming school year and launching a new three-year accelerated medical school program.
Ricker said the shortened program is designed in part to reduce tuition costs for students.
“Medical school is usually four years, and all four years you’re paying tuition, so by shortening it a bit to three years, you get to pay less tuition,” she said.
The university is also offering additional scholarships through the accelerated program to reduce the financial burden on medical students.
Are you streaming 13 News?
Watch a free live stream of Tucson Now and 13 News at TucsonNow.Live.
Be sure to download the free Tucson Now app, which you can find on Apple and Google.
If you are using a desktop computer, you can use your mobile device to scan the QR code below.
Read more DHS agrees to pause proposed ICE facility in Surprise
You can submit your breaking news or weather images here.