November 20, 2025 – The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) proudly endorses the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act (S.942 / H.R.2028), bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would allow medical and dental residents to defer student loan payments interest-free during their training.
Introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Boozman (R-AR) and Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX-36) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6), the REDI Act recognizes the unique financial challenges faced by residents, who often earn modest stipends while carrying high levels of student debt. If passed, this bill would also improve children’s access to needed out-of-state healthcare by streamlining the burdensome and time-consuming Medicaid provider screening and enrollment process.
Median student debt for medical graduates exceeds $200,000, while residency salaries average about $60,000. Current law requires residents to accrue interest on loans during training, even if payments are paused. For cleft and craniofacial specialists, this added financial burden can discourage doctors from pursuing specialized care or practicing in underserved areas.
Benefits of the REDI Act include:
- Relieves financial stress during training years by stopping interest accrual.
- Supports workforce development in craniofacial and other critical specialties.
- Encourages more physicians to practice in rural and underserved areas.
- Helps ensure children and adults with cleft and craniofacial conditions have access to needed care.
The REDI Act was reintroduced to the 119th Congress in March 2025 and currently has six co-sponsors in the Senate and 51 co-sponsors in the House.
“ACPA is committed to advancing policies that strengthen the cleft and craniofacial care workforce,” said Adam Levy, ACPA Executive Director. “Supporting the REDI Act aligns with our mission to improve access to high-quality interdisciplinary care for all patients.”
How You Can Help
ACPA encourages members to contact their legislators and ask them to co-sponsor the REDI Act. You can reach out directly or use ACPA’s easy email tool—be sure to include your personal story or a short video message if possible.
To learn more about the REDI Act and ACPA’s ongoing advocacy efforts, visit our Advocacy page at https://acpacares.org/advocacy/redi-act/.
