Due to a shortage of doctors, Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, representing California’s 25th Congressional District cosponsord the bipartisan Stopping Doctor Shortages Act, this week.

In Garcia’s co-sponsored Stopping Doctor Shortages Act, the legislation plans to make a technical correction to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) of allowing physicians in California to access the program, according to officials.

“In California, we are projected to experience one of the largest doctor shortages nationwide over the next decade,” Garcia said.

“The PSLF program was intended to forgive student loans for an individual who has worked for ten years in the public sector,” representatives said.

Residents in Santa Clarita who are set to pursue becoming a physician should be aware that physicians from California and Texas are unintentionally excluded in the PSLF program due to existing state law, officials said.

“The current exclusion of California doctors from participating in the PSLF program is hindering our state’s ability to retain top medical talent,” Garcia said.

The support of this bill would alleviate doctor shortages in California, especially in Santa Clarita. 

The bill is also set to offer more doctors in California to receive student loan forgiveness, according to representatives.

“I am proud to cosponsor the Stopping Doctor Shortages Act and stand up for California’s hardworking physicians,” Garcia said.

Click here to read the full bill text. 

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