Kansas Officials Seek Authority for Foreign Providers To Come To State Despite USDA Withdrawal from Program

The Kansas Health and Environment Department plans to seek legal approval to allow four foreign doctors to practice in the state, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to end its participation in a federal program that allowed foreign-born doctors to practice in underserved areas of the United States, the AP/Topeka Capital-Journal reports (AP/Topeka Capital-Journal, 4/15). Under Immigration and Naturalization Service rules, immigrants admitted to the United States to participate in educational exchange programs receive a J-1 Visa. They must return to their home nations for two years after participation in the program before applying for an immigrant visa, permanent residence in the United States or an additional nonimmigrant visa. However, certain government agencies can request a waiver of the two-year home residence requirement. Since 1994, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had participated in the Waiver of Recommendations for Foreign Physicians program, administered by the Department of State, requesting waivers on behalf of foreign-born doctors who agree to practice in underserved areas for three to five years. However, the USDA in March ended its participation in the program due to security considerations in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Kansas has opted to take advantage of a federal law that permits it to recruit up to 20 foreign-born doctors per year. Forty-two states already have established such programs (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/28). Kansas only will participate in the program to allow four doctors whom state officials already recruited to come to the state. However, officials might expand the state's participation to recruit other foreign doctors. Officials in Columbus, Kan., had said they might have to close St. John's Maude Norton Memorial Hospital if a Venezuelan doctor was not be permitted to practice there (AP/Topeka Capital-Journal, 4/15).