03/24/2026
🚨 Nurse Practitioners: TAKE ACTION NOW 🚨
A new federal policy—“Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE)” proposed rule, implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—could drastically impact our profession.
Proposed by the U.S. Department of Education, this rule would:
• Cap graduate loans at $20,500/year ($100K total)
• Eliminate Grad PLUS loans
• Exclude NP, PA, and other healthcare degrees from “professional” status
📊 Why this matters:
• NP programs cost $60K–$120K+
• Limits who can afford to become an NP
• Threatens the healthcare workforce pipeline
• Reduces patient access—especially in rural areas
This rule specifically redefines which programs qualify as “professional degrees,” placing NP programs in a lower loan tier if finalized ()
📢 Even national medical organizations are speaking out:
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases warns this could shrink the NP/PA workforce and worsen access to care for patients with liver disease.
✉️ TAKE 2 MINUTES TO ACT:
Contact your Senators:
• John Cornyn → https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact/
• Ted Cruz → https://www.cruz.senate.gov/contact/
Submit a public comment:
• https://www.regulations.gov (https://www.regulations.gov/)
🗣️ Copy & Send:
“Please classify nurse practitioner and advanced healthcare degrees as professional degrees. Limiting loan access will reduce the healthcare workforce and harm patient access to care.”
💥 Bottom line:
This is not just policy—it’s the future of patient care.
