District of Columbia2025Active
B26-0754
Health Professional Loan Repayment Emergency Amendment Act of 2026
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 4:28 AM
In one sentence
This emergency bill adds certified addiction counselors to a loan repayment program for health workers in Washington, D.C., and updates the maximum amounts they can receive based on their job type.
What it does
- Adds certified addiction counselors to the list of professionals eligible for the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program.
- Sets new maximum total debt repayment limits ranging from $45,000 to $200,000 depending on whether a worker is full-time or part-time and their specific medical specialty.
- Clarifies that participants can receive up to 100% of their student loan debt if it falls within the set maximum amounts for their license type.
- Replaces fixed yearly payment schedules with rules created by city officials, allowing annual payments based on available funding.
- Gives the Mayor authority to raise these dollar limits each year using a measure called the consumer price index.
Who it affects
- Certified addiction counselors in Washington, D.C. who want to join the loan repayment program.
- Physicians and dentists working full-time or part-time under the existing Health Professional Loan Repayment Program.
- Health professionals specializing in fields like psychiatry, oncology, or cardiology who practice in Ward 7 or Ward 8.
Limits and unknowns
- The Chief Financial Officer states that current budget plans do not have enough money to fully fund this program starting in fiscal year 2027.
- This is an emergency act, meaning it will only stay in effect for up to 90 days after the Mayor approves it unless extended by new laws.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Health Professional Loan Repayment Program
- A city program that pays off student loans for health workers who agree to work in Washington, D.C. areas with a shortage of doctors or other care providers.
- Consumer Price Index
- A number used by the government to measure how much prices change over time; this bill uses it to adjust loan repayment limits for inflation.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Health Professional Loan Repayment Emergency Amendment Act of 2026
Official activity
Bill history
- Under Council Review