To help physicians demonstrate satisfaction of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program requirements for providing services “full-time” in a public service job through one or more “qualifying employer(s),” the California Medical Association (CMA) has published a PSLF attestation form. The form will help physicians provide reliable, accurate information that will enable qualifying employers to certify the physician’s PLSF application. 

CMA had heard from some physicians that certain hospitals, clinics or other “qualifying employers” have been hesitant to sign the application form for hours worked back to 2007. Once a physician attests to the dates and hours using the new CMA form, qualifying employers should be able to confidently sign the application. The form also allows a physician’s medical group to attest to the hours, as well.

The form is available in CMA’s guide – “Public Service Loan Forgiveness: What California Physicians Need to Know”  – which was published to help physicians determine whether they may qualify for hours worked back to 2007 or for future years of service. The guide also contains detailed instructions on the application form.

Physicians are also reminded that that to be eligible for the PSLF program and to have past time worked counted towards the program requirements, they must have a direct government loan or consolidate their loans into a direct loan by December 31, 2023. Additional information in available in CMA’s guide.

Join Us for a Webinar to Learn More

CMA along with the California Hospital Association (CHA), Texas Medical Association (TMA), and Texas Hospital Association (THA) are cohosting a free webinar on the new PSLF rules. The one-hour webinar is Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 12:15 p.m., Pacific time.

The webinar will provide specific instructions about how more California and Texas physicians can qualify for PSLF. It will also discuss how hospitals, foundations and other entities can serve as “qualifying employers” for purposes of PSLF, even though they are prohibited by state law from employing physicians.

The U.S. Department of Education will provide information about eligible qualifying loans and the new eligibility criteria. There will also be a legal presentation about the types of practices that qualify, the required written agreements between physicians and nonprofit entities, and suggestions for documenting the required work hours with time for your questions.