AMA Adopts New Policies On Disabled Patient Care And Medical Student Loan Deferment

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 14 Nov 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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AMA supports reforms for disabled patients: The AMA passed new policy supporting Medicaid reforms that would provide disabled patients with equal access to home and community-based services so that they can live as independently as possible. The AMA supports passage of congressional legislation, the Community Choice Act of 2007, that would achieve these goals. This policy was recommended to the AMA by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

"People with disabilities who rely on Medicaid should not have to choose between the important care they need and the ability to live independently," said AMA Board Member Rebecca J. Patchin, MD. "We support Medicaid reforms so that disabled patients, together with their physicians, can decide where the best place is to receive medical care and support based on patients' individual needs."

AMA fights for continuation of medical student loan deferment: To help alleviate the high debt burden for many medical residents, the AMA passed new policy supporting reinstatement of the economic hardship loan deferment option that many residents rely upon. The loan deferment program, known as the "20/220 pathway," allows medical residents to defer payment on their loans for up to three years during their residency training based on economic hardship. Congress must act to permanently restore loan deferment for medical residents. The AMA also supports alternate mechanisms that better address the financial needs of medical residents.

"The average medical student graduates with a debt of more than $130,000. Making it harder for residents to pay back this high debt can deter young physicians from going into primary care medicine or practicing in underserved areas where American patients desperately need them," said AMA Board Member Samantha L. Rosman, MD.

American Medical Association