The University of Arizona's decision to begin waiving tuition for more medical students who commit to practicing primary care in underserved communities across the state is drawing praise from state legislators.
“Not only does UArizona’s primary care tuition waiver program provide an opportunity for medical students to graduate without crippling student loan debt, but it will get primary care physicians to the areas of the state that badly need them,” state Rep. Gina Cobb (R-Kingman) said in a news release. “I applaud UArizona for their work addressing Arizona’s primary care shortage and I couldn’t be prouder that the legislature has made this program a priority.”
Fellow GOP state Rep. Tim Dunn of Yuma also signaled out the program for praise, adding “Arizona ranks 44th among states in active primary care physicians per capita, and rural Arizona is bearing the brunt. Patients shouldn’t have to wait weeks or even months to get an appointment with a primary care physician but that’s the situation many of my constituents face. UArizona’s tuition waiver program will begin to address this critical doctor shortage.”
The state’s 2020 budget includes $8 million to expand the tuition waiver program with one of the eligibility stipulations requiring all students be Arizona residents and full-time medical students.
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