House Approves Measure to Increase Number of Foreign-Born Doctors Serving in Rural Areas of United States

The House on June 25 voted 407-7 to increase the number of foreign doctors allowed to remain in the United States in exchange for providing care in underserved areas, AP/CNN.com reports (AP/CNN.com, 6/30). 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 has participated in the Waiver of Recommendations for Foreign Physicians program, administered by the State Department, requesting waivers on behalf of foreign-born doctors who agree to practice in underserved areas for three to five years. In March, however, USDA ended its participation in the program due to security considerations in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/17). USDA had played the "lead federal role" in seeking the waivers; state health departments also are permitted to seek waivers. Last week's House vote would grant the state-request program a two-year renewal and allow each state to request 30 waivers per year, compared with the 20 waivers permitted under current law. A similar bill under consideration in the Senate would make the program permanent (AP/CNN.com, 6/30).