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Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act
3/26/2025, 8:06 AM
Summary of Bill HR 1585
One of the key provisions of the bill is the establishment of a scholarship program for medical students who commit to practicing in rural or underserved areas upon completion of their training. This program would provide financial assistance to students in exchange for their agreement to work in these communities for a specified period of time.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions for loan repayment programs for physicians who choose to practice in rural or underserved areas. These programs would help alleviate the burden of student loan debt for healthcare professionals who are willing to work in areas where there is a critical need for medical services. Furthermore, the bill seeks to improve access to telehealth services in rural communities by providing funding for the expansion of telehealth infrastructure and technology. This would allow residents in these areas to receive medical care remotely, reducing the need for travel to distant healthcare facilities. Overall, Bill 119 HR 1585 aims to address the disparities in healthcare access between rural and urban areas by incentivizing physicians to practice in underserved communities. By providing financial assistance and support for healthcare professionals, the bill seeks to improve the quality of care for residents in these areas and ensure that all Americans have access to the medical services they need.
Congressional Summary of HR 1585
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act
This bill modifies the Conrad 30 Waiver program, which incentivizes qualified foreign physicians to serve in underserved communities. It also extends statutory authority for the program for three years from this bill's enactment.
Individuals coming to the United States under a J-1 nonimmigrant visa to receive medical training typically must leave the country and reside for two years abroad before being eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or permanent residence. The Conrad program waives this requirement for individuals who meet certain qualifications, including serving for a number of years at a health care facility in an underserved area.
The bill increases the number of waivers that a state may obtain each fiscal year from 30 to 35 if a certain number of waivers were used the previous year, and provides for further adjustments depending on demand.
A physician may be employed at an academic medical center to meet the Conrad program's employment requirements if the physician's work is in the public interest, even if the medical center is not in an underserved area.
Employment contracts for physicians under the Conrad program shall contain certain information, such as the maximum number of on-call hours per week the physician shall have to work.
Certain physicians (along with the physician's spouse and children) shall be exempt from the direct annual numerical limits on immigration, including those physicians that have met certain requirements related to visas for physicians to serve in underserved areas.
