Derek Brandt, JD, STS Advocacy
2 min read
All Members Advocacy
Key Points
  • House Republicans narrowly passed a major bill advancing President Trump’s domestic agenda, with a 215–214 vote.
  • STS is actively engaging with lawmakers to address the potential loss of Medicaid coverage for over 8 million people and insufficient reversal of Medicare physician payment cuts.
  • The bill proposes changes to federal student loans, including capping interest accrual during residency and tightening Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility.

In late May, House Republicans narrowly passed a sweeping bill aimed at advancing President Trump’s domestic agenda with a vote of 215 to 214. The bill now heads to the Senate, where additional changes are expected. STS is actively engaging with congressional offices to raise several areas of concern and improve the bill:

  • Medicaid Coverage Impact: Proposed changes could result in more than 8 million individuals losing their Medicaid coverage.
  • Medicare Physician Payments: The bill does not reverse existing cuts in physician payments in 2025. However, it includes modest payment updates totaling $9 billion for the physician fee schedule. Specifically, it would provide a 75% increase in medical inflation for 2026, followed by annual increases of 10% thereafter.
  • Student Loan Changes: The bill would cap interest accrual on federal loans during the first four years of medical residency, tighten eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and impose new limits on student borrowing.

As the Senate considers this legislation, it's critical that lawmakers hear from constituents. Contact your senators today.