President Donald Trump has put a $100,000 one-time cost on all new H-1B visa applications. This might have a big effect on the US healthcare system. This big change is worrying doctors and healthcare groups a lot because they think it could make it very hard for highly trained doctors to come to the country.
Bloomberg says that the new price directly threatens the availability of educated doctors, especially in remote areas where U.S.-trained doctors don’t commonly work.
A “Devastating” Effect on Healthcare in Rural Areas
The American Medical Association (AMA) has publicly cautioned that Trump’s choice could have a terrible effect on the medical infrastructure in rural areas of the country. Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, an Indian-American doctor from Michigan who is in charge of the AMA, told Bloomberg that the new visa fee “risks shutting off the pipeline of highly trained physicians that patients depend on, especially in rural and underserved communities.” He said that international medical graduates are a “critical part of our physician workforce.”
The Department of Health and Human Services has data that backs up Mukkamala’s worries. It reveals that a large number of doctors in several states, especially in rural areas, are on H-1B visas. The increased cost could make it too expensive for hospitals and clinics in these areas to hire the doctors they really need.
Requests for a Doctor’s Exemption
The new price went into effect for all new visa applications on Sunday, although there is still a chance that doctors will be able to get an exemption. The American Hospital Association (AHA), a prominent trade group for healthcare facilities, is working closely with the government to get this exception. Bloomberg quoted an AHA representative as saying, “We will also work with the Administration to stress the importance of including health care personnel in potential exemptions to these changes.”
It looks like the White House is getting the message. In an email, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said, “The Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents.” This comment, while careful, suggests that they would be open to a more flexible approach to healthcare personnel.