ACR, American Hospital Association urge Congress to create path for foreign-born docs to relieve shortages

Radiologists and hospitals are urging Congress to pass legislation before the year’s end to enable foreign-born physicians to help relieve staffing shortages in the U.S. 

The American College of Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, American Hospital Association and others recently made their case in a Nov. 20 letter to lawmakers. They note that the shortage is “growing more urgent each year,” with over 80 million Americans living in areas that lack access to a primary care doc. 

ACR, AHA and 36 other organizations want Congress to pass two previously proposed pieces of legislation that would make it easier for foreign nationals to relieve staffing challenges. By 2036, the U.S. is expected to face a shortage of up to 86,000 docs at a time when waves of aging Americans will require more healthcare services. 

“The growing demands on healthcare systems require Congress to take steps to prepare to meet the needs of all patients,” the groups wrote. “We continue to advocate for increasing the number of graduate medical education slots, minimizing administrative burdens on physicians and practices, and recognizing the vital role international medical graduates play in our healthcare system.”

Hospitals and physicians are pushing for passage of the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act.  Reintroduced in March 2023, S.665 would allow international doctors to remain in the U.S. upon completing their residency under the condition that they practice in areas experiencing physician shortages. They’re also advocating for approval of the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act. Proposed in November 2023, S.3211 would recapture unused immigrant visas that Congress has previously authorized, using them for healthcare providers.

An increasing number of physicians will reach retirement age over the next decade. Investments in graduate medical education may help, but it could take up to 15 years to educate and train new physicians before they’re ready to being seeing patients. Around for 30 years, the Conrad 30 waiver program has incentivized some 20,000 physicians to practice medicine in rural or other underserved areas. Docs must do so for at least three years in exchange for the waiver. 

However, without the program, international medical graduates on J-1 visas must return to their country for at least two years before applying for another visa or green card, the groups noted. 

“Reauthorizing this program would provide critical updates…,” they wrote. “In addition to gradually increasing the number of available waivers per state if certain thresholds are met, it would clarify and improve the waiver process for [international medical graduates] and employers by expanding the timeframe between when individual receives a waiver and when they must begin work to allow for time to complete their medical education and receive employment authorization.”

Meanwhile, ACR et al. noted that the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would initiate a one-time recapture of 15,000 unused employment-based visas for foreign-born physicians and 25,000 more for nurses. This would allow international physicians working in the country to temporarily adjust their status. 

“This crucial policy change, which concludes three years after the date of enactment, will enable these physicians to continue serving patients ensuring every American can access needed care,” the groups wrote. “Foreign-born physicians are an invaluable component of the U.S. healthcare system, comprising nearly 1 in 5 of active U.S. physicians.”

Others signing the message included the American Academy of Neurology, American College of Physicians, College of American Pathologists, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Federation of American Hospitals and Premier Inc. You can find the full letter here.