Credentialing & Privileging | 01.06.21
Aggravating the U.S. Physician Shortage
by The Regulatory Review
The Regulatory Review (12/30/20) McDonough, Lynn
While the need to attract new doctors to the profession has never been greater, federal laws restricting the ability of international medical graduates to practice medicine in the U.S. have exacerbated the shortage. Doctors who receive their education outside the U.S. and pass the rigorous vetting process to practice medicine in America comprise nearly 25% of the current physician workforce. Many internationally educated doctors come to this country on H-1B visas, which are administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). One significant barrier to entry for doctors seeking an H-1B visa stems from the fact that the visa is tied to the job more so than to the worker. An employer must be motivated to start the laborious H-1B visa process and certify that a specific foreign worker is needed. Additionally, the USCIS fee schedule for employer-initiated visa applications combined with the unique pay structure of doctors completing additional years of training after medical school may discourage hospitals from hiring foreign doctors.
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