The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship held a
hearing on Feb. 15 titled, “Is there a Doctor in the House? The Role of Immigrant Physicians in the US Healthcare System.” Among those testifying before the Committee was Dr. David J. Skorton, President and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
In his
statement to the Committee, Dr. Skorton said, “The U.S. health care workforce and the patients they serve rely on physicians from other countries, particularly in rural and other underserved areas. According to AAMC analysis of American Medical Association 2020 physician practice data, approximately 23% of active physicians practicing in the U.S. identified as foreign born, many of whom are now U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Their contributions are more profound than just a number indicates. Physician diversity has been widely recognized as key to excellence in medicine and quality care.”
"Unfortunately, our outdated immigration system only adds to the problem. Although foreign-educated physicians can come to the United States to complete their medical training, their temporary visa options are limited. Without a visa classification that is designed specifically for them, foreign physicians are forced to deal with the challenges of a flawed system that was designed decades ago.” As a result, Dr. Skorton recommended that Congress expand the State Conrad 30 J-1 visa waiver program; prioritize healthcare workers for immigrant visas; reduce green card backlogs, and provide a permanent pathway to citizenship for individuals with DACA status, which includes approximately 34,000 health care providers.
In addition to the witness testimony, the Committee received written statements from a number of medical associations, including from the American Medical Association, highlighting the need for additional Medicare-funded residency slots, the importance of international medical graduates (IMGs) in combating our current and projected physician shortage and the need to prioritize IMGs during the visa process. The AMA also noted its support for multiple pieces of legislation currently under consideration including the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act, the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act and the Physician Shortage GME Cap Flex Act.
It is unclear at this point whether Congress will enact significant immigration reforms in the near term, but given concerns about healthcare workforce shortages and the resulting workload and burnout considerations ASCP will be following this issue closely.
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