Strengthening Pathways to Health Professions Act

H.R. 593 would amend the tax code to make certain federal and state scholarship and loan repayment programs tax-exempt for healthcare professionals. Specifically, the bill would exclude from gross income payments received through programs like the Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, and state loan repayment programs designed to increase healthcare services in underserved areas. This means healthcare workers receiving these awards would not owe federal income taxes on those amounts.

The bill's goal is to make federal scholarships and loan repayment programs more valuable to recipients, allowing the government to stretch limited funds further and attract more healthcare professionals to careers in primary care, mental health, dental services, and other areas. Supporters argue this would help address healthcare worker shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The bill is currently in the House Committee on Ways and Means and has bipartisan support from Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Carol Miller (R-WV), along with endorsements from 50 national healthcare organizations.