As of July 28, 2025, lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are debating how to fix the physician shortage in the United States 🇺🇸, with new bills like the Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025 aiming to help. Despite bipartisan support and urgent need, Congress has not yet passed major reforms to make it easier for foreign-trained doctors to work in the country, leaving many communities without enough healthcare providers.
The physician shortage has become a national crisis, especially in rural and underserved areas. Many hospitals and clinics struggle to find enough doctors, which means longer wait times and less access to care for millions of Americans. Lawmakers, medical groups, and state officials agree that foreign-trained physicians are a key part of the solution, but federal immigration policies and slow legislative action continue to block progress.
Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025: A Key Proposal
On February 11, 2025, Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) reintroduced the Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill focuses on expanding the Conrad 30 waiver program, which is a special rule that lets states allow up to 30 foreign medical graduates each year to stay in the United States 🇺🇸 after finishing their training, as long as they work in areas that need doctors the most. The new bill would raise this limit to 100 waivers per state or region, making it possible for more foreign-trained doctors to stay and serve communities in need.
The main goal of the bill is to keep more U.S.-trained foreign doctors in the country, especially in places where there are not enough doctors. This would help improve patient care and make it easier for people in rural or low-income areas to see a doctor when they need one. The bill has strong support from both Republicans and Democrats, showing that leaders from different backgrounds understand how serious the physician shortage is. However, as of late July 2025, the bill is still being discussed in Congress and has not become law.
Other Legislative Efforts: Expanding Residency Training
Another important bill is the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025, introduced on June 10, 2025, by Representatives Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). This bill would add 14,000 new Medicare-supported residency positions over the next seven years. Residency is the hands-on training that new doctors must complete after medical school before they can practice on their own. Right now, there are more medical school graduates than residency slots, which means some new doctors cannot finish their training and start working.
The American Medical Association (AMA), the largest group representing doctors in the United States 🇺🇸, strongly supports this bill. The AMA says that adding more residency slots is a vital step to help fix the physician shortage, especially in areas where it is hardest to find doctors. The bill is currently being reviewed by important House committees, but it has not yet passed.
State-Level Solutions: Licensing and Training Reforms
While Congress debates national solutions, several states have taken action on their own to make it easier for international medical graduates (IMGs) to get licensed and start working. For example:
- New York now allows DACA recipients (young immigrants brought to the United States 🇺🇸 as children) to apply for medical licenses.
- Montana has removed extra training requirements that made it harder for foreign-trained doctors to get licensed.
- New Mexico has created special pathways and grants to help IMGs get ready for residency and practice medicine.
These state-level changes have already led to more foreign-trained doctors working in places like Washington and Minnesota, helping to fill gaps in care.
Immigration Policy Challenges: Barriers for Foreign-Trained Doctors
Despite these efforts, federal immigration rules still make it hard for many skilled doctors from other countries to practice in the United States 🇺🇸. The Conrad 30 waiver program, even with its benefits, only allows 30 doctors per state each year under current law, which is not enough to meet the demand. The Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025 would raise this number to 100, but until it passes, the shortage continues.
Visa processing is another big problem. Many foreign-trained doctors come to the United States 🇺🇸 on J-1 visas, which require them to return to their home country for two years after their training unless they get a waiver. Getting this waiver can be slow and complicated. The H-1B visa, another option for skilled workers, also has long wait times and strict limits. The AMA and other groups have called for faster visa processing and more waivers to help doctors get to work quickly.
Past immigration policies, especially during President Trump’s administration, made things even harder. Increased scrutiny and deportations scared some international doctors away from coming to or staying in the United States 🇺🇸. These effects still linger, making it even more important for Congress to act.
The Numbers: How Big Is the Problem?
The impact of the physician shortage is clear in the numbers:
- Nearly 21 million Americans live in areas where at least half of the doctors are foreign-trained. Without these doctors, many people would have no access to care.
- The Conrad 30 program’s current limit of 30 waivers per state is far too low for the size of the problem. Raising it to 100 could help keep hundreds more doctors in the country each year.
- Adding 14,000 new residency positions over seven years would help more medical graduates finish their training and start practicing, easing the shortage.
Key Stakeholders: Who Is Involved?
Several groups are working to solve the physician shortage:
- Congressional leaders like Reps. Lawler, Clarke, Sewell, and Fitzpatrick are pushing for new laws to expand visa waivers and residency slots.
- The American Medical Association (AMA) is a strong supporter of these efforts. AMA President Bruce A. Scott, M.D., has spoken out in favor of expanding the Conrad 30 waiver program and making visa processing faster.
- State medical boards and organizations are changing licensing rules to help international doctors get to work sooner.
- Hospitals, clinics, and patients are directly affected by the shortage, especially in rural and low-income areas.
Practical Implications: What Does This Mean for People?
For foreign-trained doctors, the current system means long waits, complicated paperwork, and limited chances to stay in the United States 🇺🇸 after their training. Many talented doctors want to serve in communities that need them, but visa and licensing barriers get in the way.
If Congress passes the Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025 and expands the Conrad 30 waiver program, more doctors could stay and work in the United States 🇺🇸, especially in places that struggle to find enough healthcare providers. Hospitals and clinics would have an easier time hiring the staff they need, which could mean shorter wait times and better care for patients.
Patients in rural and underserved areas would benefit the most. Right now, some people have to drive hours to see a doctor or wait weeks for an appointment. More doctors in these areas would make it easier for everyone to get the care they need, when they need it.
Background: How Did We Get Here?
The physician shortage in the United States 🇺🇸 has been growing for years. The country’s population is getting older, and more people need medical care. At the same time, not enough new doctors are being trained to replace those who retire. Foreign-trained doctors have always played an important role in filling these gaps, especially in hard-to-reach places.
Programs like the Conrad 30 waiver were created to help keep skilled doctors in the country, but limits on waivers and slow visa processing have made it hard to keep up with demand. Immigration policies have changed over time, with some years seeing more restrictions that make it harder for international doctors to stay.
Despite broad agreement that the physician shortage is a serious problem, Congress has struggled to pass comprehensive reforms. Political disagreements, competing priorities, and the complexity of immigration law have all slowed progress.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
The future of the physician workforce in the United States 🇺🇸 depends on what happens in Congress over the next year. The Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025 and the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act are the most promising bills on the table. If passed, they would make it easier for foreign-trained doctors to stay and work in the country and for new doctors to complete their training.
Medical groups like the AMA will keep pushing for faster visa processing and more waivers. State-level reforms are likely to continue, with more states making it easier for international doctors to get licensed. These changes can provide some relief, but real progress will require action at the federal level.
Political debates and other issues may slow things down, but the growing need for doctors is putting pressure on lawmakers to act. Hospitals, clinics, and patients are watching closely, hoping for solutions that will bring more doctors to the communities that need them most.
Solution-Oriented Steps: What Can Be Done Now?
While waiting for Congress to act, there are steps that states, hospitals, and doctors can take:
- States can continue to update licensing rules to make it easier for international doctors to get certified and start working.
- Hospitals and clinics can partner with medical schools and residency programs to support foreign-trained doctors and help them navigate the visa process.
- Doctors and medical students can stay informed about changes in immigration law and seek help from organizations like the AMA or state medical boards.
For those interested in the details of these bills or wanting to track their progress, the official U.S. Congress website provides up-to-date information on the Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025 and other related legislation.
Official Resources for Further Information
- The American Medical Association (AMA) offers regular updates and advocacy resources on physician workforce and immigration issues.
- The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) provides guidance on licensing for international medical graduates.
- State medical boards have information on local licensing rules and programs for integrating foreign-trained doctors.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
The physician shortage in the United States 🇺🇸 is a complex problem with no easy fix. Foreign-trained doctors are a vital part of the solution, but immigration barriers and slow legislative action continue to stand in the way. Expanding the Conrad 30 waiver program through the Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025, adding more residency slots, and making visa processing faster would help bring more doctors to the communities that need them most.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the stakes are high for patients, doctors, and the entire healthcare system. While state-level reforms offer some hope, real change will require Congress to act. Until then, millions of Americans will continue to rely on the dedication and skill of foreign-trained doctors who work hard to care for their communities, often against the odds.
For now, the physician shortage remains a pressing issue, but with continued advocacy and bipartisan support, there is hope that meaningful reform is on the horizon. By working together, lawmakers, medical organizations, and communities can help ensure that everyone in the United States 🇺🇸 has access to the care they need.
Learn Today
Conrad 30 waiver program → Allows states to keep up to 30 foreign-trained doctors per year working in shortage areas after training.
Doctors in Our Borders Act of 2025 → Bipartisan bill proposing to raise waiver limits to 100 per state to address physician shortages.
Residency → Post-medical school hands-on training doctors must complete before independent medical practice.
J-1 visa → Exchange visitor visa often used by foreign medical graduates requiring home residency or waiver.
H-1B visa → Work visa for skilled professionals with caps and long approval delays affecting foreign doctors.
This Article in a Nutshell
The US faces a physician shortage affecting millions, especially in rural areas. Proposals like the Doctors in Our Borders Act aim to expand visa waivers, helping foreign-trained doctors stay and serve communities in need, while increasing residency slots tackles training bottlenecks and improves patient care nationwide.
— By VisaVerge.com
