Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Rural and Underserved Residencies to Attract Long-term Physicians Act” or the “RURAL Physicians Act”.
Rural and Underserved Residencies to Attract Long-term Physicians Act
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in certain medical or dental internships or residency programs.
Sec. 2 Deferment during a medical or dental internship or residency program
Section 455(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “A borrower” and inserting “Except as provided in paragraph (6), a borrower”;
in paragraph (2)(A)—
by striking “or” at the end of clause (i);
by striking the matter following clause (ii);
in clause (ii), by striking the comma at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(iii) is serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program that—
“(I) at the beginning of such service is in—
“(aa) a health professional shortage area designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e); or
“(bb) a medical facility located in a census tract with a Rural Urban Commuting Area code 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10; or
“(II) is in a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs;”
by adding at the end the following:
“(6) Special rule for certain in school deferment—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a borrower described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii) shall be eligible for a deferment, during which periodic installments of principal need not be paid and interest shall not accrue on any loan made to the borrower under this part.”