This began more than 20 years ago, during the Clinton years. The fed participates in the "conspiracy" as well. The excuse is that having too many doctors and nurses is somehow a bad thing.
WAY, way more than 20 years (so it can't be blamed on Clinton)....I finished grad school in 1973, and the practice was very will established even then. I suspect it dates back to the days of the post WWII "GI Bill". Gotta keep all those plebian sorts out of upper-class occupations, y'know.
And yes, I "am" a dinosaur (at least according to nieces and nephews).