Bipartisan legislation introduced by Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, would address the shortfall of veterinarians in rural areas by offering tax relief. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act would help meet the growing demand for veterinarians nationwide by eliminating taxes on programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved areas. [Source: 221 shortage areas in 48 states for 2021.
This program helps veterinarians pay down their student loan debt so that they can afford to start a practice where it’s most needed.
Currently, the VMLRP is subject to a significant federal withholding tax on the assistance provided to qualifying veterinarians. This limits the resources available for the program, as well as the reach of its benefits. The Stabenow-Crapo legislation will address this by providing an exemption from the federal income withholding tax for payments received under the VMLRP and similar state programs, helping give more veterinarians the opportunity to practice in small, rural communities where their services are needed.
"Qualified veterinarians in agricultural communities across the nation are a key part of maintaining animal health and welfare, and ensuring ranchers and farmers have access to care for their livestock," notes Crapo. "Overly burdensome federal taxes on the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program limit the reach of the program’s benefits, and addressing those limitations would allow more veterinarians to have the opportunity to practice in small, rural communities where their services are in critical need."
"Expanding the VMLRP means more veterinarians will receive student loan relief and there will be more access to veterinary care in rural areas across the country – a win-win for the profession," says Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
AVMA sent a notice out to its members June 28 calling on them to contact their legislators urging support.
Kratt notes the AVMA is grateful to the leaders in Congress for supporting legislation that removes the tax on service awards and maximizes the effectiveness of the VMLRP. "We will use this momentum to build broad support for the bill and send it to the President’s desk," he says.