07.23.24

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Improve Accountability Of Foreign Medical Schools Receiving Federal Student Aid

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation that would protect students and taxpayers by closing a loophole that gives special treatment to a small number of overseas medical schools.  The Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act would require all medical schools outside of the U.S. and Canada to meet the same minimum requirements to receive Title IV student aid dollars.

Currently, some overseas medical schools, including those in the Caribbean, are exempt from meeting the minimum standards to which other foreign medical schools are held: that at least 60 percent of their enrollment must be non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents and that students have at least a 75 percent pass rate on the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE).  In fact, three for-profit schools in the Caribbean—Adtalem’s American University of the Caribbean, Ross University School of Medicine, and St. George’s University—are exempt from both requirements but continue to receive nearly three-fourths of all the Title IV funds that go to students attending foreign medical schools. 

“Medical schools in the Caribbean shouldn’t be able to reap millions in U.S. federal student aid by taking advantage of loopholes in U.S. law.  It’s time to crack down on these for-profit schools’ tactics with the Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act,” said Durbin.  “Their students face massive student debt and a smaller chance of actually becoming a doctor than students at quality U.S. medical schools.  By closing this loophole, we can bring fairness to the eligibility requirements and increase accountability of schools that receive federal dollars to better protect students and taxpayers.”

“The Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) supports the Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act which would ensure that federal aid for students attending international medical schools goes to schools that all meet the same rigorous standards.  AMSNY thanks Senator Durbin for introducing this legislation to create a consistent approach and accountability for all international medical schools,” said Jonathan Teyan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Associated Medical Schools of New York.

“To ensure that patients across the United States receive the highest quality physician care, it is essential that we establish consistent, fair standards for foreign medical schools that receive U.S. federal financial aid,” said American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO.  “AACOM extends its gratitude to Senator Durbin for his leadership in reintroducing the Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act. This vital legislation promotes responsible use of federal funds and strengthens the healthcare system for all Americans.”

Despite receiving such a large portion of Title IV dollars relative to other offshore medical schools, these schools produce poor student outcomes while shouldering their students with mountains of debt.  The median student loan debt is $410,161 at Adtalem’s American University of the Caribbean, $440,797 at Ross University School of Medicine, and $437,968 at St. George’s University.  Compare this to U.S. medical schools, where the median debt is $200,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. 

These foreign medical schools also are much less successful at ensuring students’ success.  While U.S. medical schools have an on-time completion rate of 82 to 84 percent, the three Caribbean-based medical schools have an average on-time completion rate of 44 percent, with Ross University School of Medicine’s average on-time completion rate as low as 20.24 percent. 

Students who are able to graduate from these schools do so with more debt and more difficulty securing a residency, which is mandatory to practice medicine in the United States.  In 2024, foreign-trained American graduates had a residency match rate of just 67 percent, compared to 93.5 percent of graduates of U.S. allopathic medical schools and 92.3 percent of graduates of U.S. osteopathic medical schools.

The Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act is supported by the Associated Medical Schools of New York, Association of American Medical Colleges, American Osteopathic Association, and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

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