Foreign Physicians: Exchange Visitor Program Becoming Major Route to Practicing in U.S. Underserved Areas
HEHS-97-26
Published: Dec 30, 1996. Publicly Released: Dec 30, 1996.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the extent to which state and federal agencies used waivers to meet physician shortages in medically underserved areas, focusing on: (1) how many foreign physicians with J-1 visas receive waivers, where they practice, and their medical specialties; (2) whether federal agencies and states effectively coordinate policies and procedures for granting these waivers; and (3) the extent to which foreign physicians who receive waivers comply with waiver requirements to practice in underserved areas.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| If Congress wants to continue to address medical underservice in the United States through the use of waivers for physicians with J-1 visa requirements, it should consider requiring that the use of such waivers be managed as a program. Specifically, Congress should consider clarifying how the use of waivers for these physicians fits into the overall federal strategy to address medical underservice. This should include determining the size of the waiver program and establishing how it should be coordinated with other federal programs. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
No plans exist to introduce needed legislation. |
| If Congress wants to continue to address medical underservice in the United States through the use of waivers for physicians with J-1 visa requirements, it should consider requiring that the use of such waivers be managed as a program. Specifically, Congress should consider designating leadership responsibility for managing the program. This responsibility could be given to a single federal agency, such as HHS, to several federal agencies, for example, through a memorandum of understanding, or it could be delegated to the states. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
The implementing legislation has not been introduced. |
| If Congress wants to continue to address medical underservice in the United States through the use of waivers for physicians with J-1 visa requirements, it should consider requiring that the use of such waivers be managed as a program. Specifically, Congress should consider establishing penalties against facilities that fail to comply with requirements of the waiver. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
The implementing legislation has not been introduced. |
| If Congress wants to continue to address medical underservice in the United States through the use of waivers for physicians with J-1 visa requirements, it should consider requiring that the use of such waivers be managed as a program. Specifically, Congress should consider directing the entity managing the program to implement procedures and criteria for the selection and placement of physicians and for monitoring compliance with waiver requirements. These procedures and criteria could include requiring the state to clearly support the use of the physician for addressing unmet need and to show that it has sought other options for fulfilling this need. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
The implementing legislation has not been introduced. |
Full Report
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Topics
Community health servicesCultural exchange programsDisadvantaged personsHealth resources utilizationInteragency relationsInternal controlsJ-1 Visa waiverJ-1 VisasMedical educationPhysiciansImmigration statusWaiversForeign medical graduates