New national coalition launches to preserve access to healthcare careers and strengthen workforce
Alliance for Healthcare Access & Workforce Development brings together more than 75 organizations in response to proposed federal policy limiting loans for graduate education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2026—A new national coalition, the Alliance for Healthcare Access & Workforce Development (AHAWD), has launched to address federal policies affecting student access to graduate education, with an aim to enhance the long-term stability of the healthcare workforce.
AHAWD brings together more than 75 organizations from across the healthcare ecosystem, including professional associations, colleges and universities, health systems, and patient advocacy groups. Collectively, these organizations represent the interests of students, educators, practitioners, and communities that depend on a robust and accessible healthcare workforce. With a focus on coordinated federal advocacy, regulatory engagement, and strategic communications to promote student loan policies that reflect the realities of healthcare education and workforce needs, AHAWD will serve as a centralized forum for sharing data, aligning policy positions, and engaging with Congress and federal agencies.
The coalition formed in response to recent changes in federal graduate student loan limits enacted by Congress and the subsequent interpretation and implementation of those provisions by the U.S. Department of Education. While Congress sought to establish a framework for responsible borrowing, stakeholders across the healthcare community have raised concerns that a narrow interpretation of which graduate programs qualify for higher loan limits would unintentionally restrict access to essential healthcare professions, worsen existing workforce shortages, and create barriers for entry. If enacted as proposed, new graduate borrowers would be capped at $20,500 annually ($100,000 total) for programs not classified as "professional.” The rule is open for public comment until March 2, 2026.
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) convened stakeholders as concerns grew that federal student loan policy, as currently interpreted, will create new barriers for students pursuing in-demand healthcare careers that require intensive, full-time graduate education. This could have a profound impact on communities across the United States, particularly in rural areas.
“Healthcare workforce shortages are already affecting patient access, community health, and the ability of systems to meet growing demand,” said AOTA Chief Executive Officer Katie Jordan, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, FAOTA. “Federal student loan policy should strengthen, not weaken, the education pipeline into essential healthcare professions. AHAWD will allow policymakers to hear directly from the broad range of communities impacted by these decisions.”
Many communities already face persistent shortages of healthcare providers and rely heavily on practitioners who must complete intensive, full-time graduate education to enter the workforce. Limiting students’ ability to finance education risks further shrinking the pipeline of practitioners willing and able to serve these communities, increasing wait times for care and reducing access to critical health services.
More information about AHAWD, its members, and its policy priorities will be released in the coming weeks.
About the Alliance for Healthcare Access & Workforce Development
The Alliance for Healthcare Access & Workforce Development (AHAWD) is a national coalition of healthcare organizations committed to protecting student access to graduate education and strengthening the healthcare workforce through balanced, evidence-based federal policy.
About the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of nearly 250,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. AOTA educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting professional and educational standards, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, visit www.aota.org.
Contact: AOTA Media Relations, praota@aota.org