Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced
Summary
Stricter eligibility and a near-term sunset for foreign medical schools in federal student loan programs. This bill would set clear numeric thresholds for graduate medical schools outside the United States to qualify for Title IV Part D loans and limit the special qualification route with a scheduled expiration.
Show full summary
- Foreign graduate medical schools outside the United States would need at least 60% of enrolled students and 60% of graduates in the prior year to not be persons described in section 484(a)(5). The schools would also need at least 75% of students or graduates taking Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates exams to pass in the prior year.
- The authority for a school to qualify under these new criteria would expire on the first July 1 after enactment, creating a near-term sunset for that participation route.
- Students who were enrolled on or before enactment may keep eligibility for Part D loans while they remain in the program and maintain satisfactory academic progress. That protection lasts until withdrawal, program completion, or the fourth June 30 after the school loses eligibility, whichever comes first.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New loan rules for foreign medical students
If enacted, graduate medical schools outside the United States (not including Canada) would need to meet three tests based on the prior year. At least 60% of enrolled students and 60% of graduates would have to be not persons described in section 484(a)(5) in the prior year. At least 75% of the school's students or graduates who took the ECFMG exams would have to pass in the prior year. A special authority that let some foreign schools qualify for Title IV Part D would end on the first July 1 after enactment. Students who were enrolled on or before enactment would be allowed to keep getting Title IV Part D loans while attending the same school, if they continue to meet satisfactory academic progress, until they withdraw, complete their program, or the fourth June 30 after the school loses eligibility.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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