Reps. Schneider, Bacon, and Finkenauer Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Physician Shortages
Statement
Today, U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation to help increase the number of doctors available to work in medically-underserved communities.
H.R. 2895, the Conrad State 30 & Physician Access Act, would extend and expand the Conrad 30 Waiver program which allows foreign doctors studying in the United States to obtain a visa following medical residency if they practice in a medically-underserved area for at least three years. Under current law, foreign doctors on J-1 educational visas must return to their home country upon completing medical residency and wait two years before they can apply for a new visa or green card.
According to estimates, the United States could face a shortage of as many as 120,000 physicians by 2030.
"The American medical education system attracts top international talent and produces the best-trained graduates in the world," said Congressman Brad Schneider. "It makes no sense and is, in fact, irresponsible to force these highly-skilled new doctors out of the country at a time when many of our communities struggle to meet the demand for qualified physicians. Extending the Conrad 30 visa waiver program is a commonsense step that both parties can support to help more Americans have access to quality health care practitioners in their communities."
"There are many communities in America struggling to attract talented physicians, yet we have many skilled people from around the world who wish to study here and stay to work," said Congressman Don Bacon. "An extension of the Conrad 30 visa program will help those communities attract qualified physicians at a time when they are sorely needed. I'm thankful to work with my friends on the other side of the aisle to get this legislation to the floor."
"Iowans are feeling the effects of the physician shortage, especially in our rural communities," said Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer. "I've heard from communities and providers across our state who say we need this common-sense, bipartisan solution. We invest time and resources training physicians from all over the world -- we should make sure that we're able to retain that talent and have them serve the Iowa communities that need them."
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