Ask your members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 4942/S. 665, the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act, which allows states to sponsor foreign-trained physicians to work in medically underserved areas in exchange for a waiver of the physicians' two-year foreign residence requirement.

Background:  

The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4942/S. 665) would extend for three years the Conrad State 30 program, which allows states to request J-1 visa waivers for 30 foreign physicians per state, per year to work in federally designated shortage areas. The bill would also increase state allocations to 35 physicians per year and provide flexibility to expand the number of waivers in states where demand exceeds that limit. 

For nearly three decades the Conrad 30 waiver program has helped Americans in rural and underserved areas receive medical care from more than 15,000 high-quality international medical graduate (IMG) physicians in their local communities.

Physician shortage and maldistribution limits patient access to cost-effective, preventive care, and these problems will become even more acute in the coming years if no action is taken. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States faces a projected physician shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034. 

Reauthorizing and strengthening this program is one of many policy solutions to curtail the ongoing medical provider workforce challenges across the country. 

Action Requested: Please email your members of Congress to ask them to support H.R. 4942/S. 665, the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act. A sample email to members of Congress is provided for you that includes space to personalize your message. 

Please contact Shuan Tomlinson at stomlinson@acponline.org with any questions about this campaign. Thank you for your continued advocacy.

Stay tuned for future updates as our advocacy on this issue continues and visit our Legislative Action Center often.