Immigration Bill Lowers Hurdles for Foreign-Born Docs

John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, June 10, 2013

Nestled in the massive immigration bill that's being debated now in Congress are a handful of provisions that could ease the process that allows foreign-born physicians to practice in underserved areas across the United States. Sections dealing with revisions to the Conrad State 30 Program for recruiting foreign-born, U.S.-trained physicians could be of particular interest to rural and urban hospitals and physician practices that have had difficulty recruiting U.S.-born physicians for their underserved patients.

The pending legislation would make the Conrad program a permanent part of the immigration law and make it easier for them to stay in the country after residency. J visa status for foreign-born physicians completing medical residencies/fellowships would be classified as a "dual intent" status, similar to H-1B and L-1s. In addition, the number of Conrad waivers available to a state could be raised in increments of five depending on the usage of waivers in various states during the previous year.

Read the full article at HealthLeaders Media