Congress targets mental health shortage with loan forgiveness for underserved areas
H.R. 7787 — To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes. · Filed by Troy Carter (D-LA) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 4, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill creates a federal loan forgiveness program for mental health professionals who commit to working full-time for at least 5 years in underserved areas or institutions. Eligible borrowers—including psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and counselors—can have up to $200,000 of their education loans forgiven if they meet employment requirements. The program targets students from minority-serving institutions and aims to address shortages of mental health providers in underserved communities.
Why we flagged it
The bill's primary function is to incentivize mental health professionals to work in underserved areas through loan forgiveness, a direct workforce-development intervention. It is not a regulatory change, appropriation, or commemorative measure.
What the text implies
- The $200,000 forgiveness cap may not cover total debt for physicians and advanced practitioners, potentially limiting uptake among higher-debt borrowers.
- Minority-serving institution eligibility requirement may inadvertently concentrate benefits among certain demographic groups, though this appears intentional.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors); Minority-serving institutions (through increased enrollment); Healthcare institutions serving underserved populations