Legislation reintroduced to attract foreign docs to US

Work permission for spouses

*At present, doctors from other countries working in the US on J-1 visas are required to return to their home countries for two years after their residency ends

*They are then allowed to apply for another visa or green card

*The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorisation Act allows international doctors to stay in the US without having to return to their home country on the condition that they agree to practice in a medically under-served community for three years

*It also allows spouses of doctors to work and provides worker protection to prevent the doctors from being mistreated

*The “30” refers to the number of doctors per state that can participate in the programme

Washington, June 8

To address shortage of doctors in the US, a bi-partisan group of influential senators have announced the reintroduction of a legislation to attract foreign doctors to serve primarily in rural areas of the country. The move is likely to benefit thousands of Indian doctors who are already in the US, and those aspiring to come to the country.

The reintroduction of the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorisation Act would allow international physicians to remain in the US upon completing their residency under the condition that they practice in areas experiencing doctor shortage.

Reintroduced by Senator Jacky Rosen, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labour and Pensions Committee (HELP), alongside Senators Amy Klobuchar, Susan Collins, and Joni Ernst, the legislation would also help increase the number of doctors available to work in under-served areas, a media release said on Monday.

Senators Angus King, John Thune, Jeff Merkley, Shelley Moore Capito, Chris Coons, and Roy Blunt are co-sponsors of the legislation. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives was reintroduced by Representative Brad Schneider.

This legislation will extend the programme for three years, allow the 30-doctor threshold to be expanded, and improve the visa process.

It also allows spouses of doctors to work and provides worker protection to prevent the doctors from being mistreated.

“Far too many Nevada communities lack enough medical providers to meet patient needs, limiting our ability to fully recover from the effects of Covid-19. We must take commonsense action to address our state’s physician shortage,” Senator Rosen said.

Expansion and extension of the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorisation Act has been one of the key demands of Indian-American doctors associations in the US. Conrad 30 J-11 visa waiver programme attracts a large number of Indian doctors of the US every year. PTI