CLARKE, BISHOP, SALAZAR, & LAWLER INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE AND MAINTAIN PATIENT ACCESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 17, 2026

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) introduced the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation with Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Mike Lawler (NY-17). This legislation will exempt physicians and other health care workers from the new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions. It also prohibits new H-1B fees imposed on health care workers that exceed the existing fees under the U.S. Code.

This effort comes after Reps. Clarke and Lawler organized 100 Members of Congress in urging the Department of Homeland Security to exempt the health care sector from the fee. With workforce shortages continuing to strain hospitals and health systems nationwide, lawmakers are now moving forward with legislation to ensure physicians and other medical professionals can continue serving patients in communities that rely on them.

"As they are in so many areas across our society and economy, immigrant Americans remain indispensable assets to keeping our hospitals and health systems running steadily, efficiently, and effectively. The bipartisan willingness to ensure migrant health care workers are exempt from the $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions stands as a testament to the widely accepted value and necessity of these workers in one of this country's most vital, yet vulnerable sectors. I am proud to co-lead this effort to prevent dangerous workforce shortages from impacting the health and well-being of Americans, as well as to ensure that those who are willing to contribute their expertise and talents to our nation can continue to do so at the times when we most need them," said Congresswoman Clarke.

"As detailed in President Trump's proclamation putting this fee in place, it is certainly in the national interest to exempt healthcare workers. Hospitals, community health centers, and other critical facilities are facing serious workforce shortages that threaten access to care. And they can't pay a $100,000 price tag on new immigrant workers. Without the clarification provided in this bill, the physicians and the wider healthcare workforce would effectively be shut out of the H-1B program, furthering workforce shortages and limiting care options. Communities in the Hudson Valley and across the country depend on healthcare workers, and this legislation makes sure they can continue delivering critical care," said Congressman Lawler.

"The $100,000 H1-B filing fee adds insult to injury to hospitals, especially in rural areas. The fee will have a detrimental impact on their ability to recruit qualified health care professionals to some of the nation's most underserved areas. The bipartisan legislation we are introducing today, however, will ensure that all physicians and health professionals are exempted from this fee so that they can continue to serve without fear or financial hardship," said Congressman Bishop.

"Healthcare access starts with having enough doctors and medical professionals to serve our communities. As our nation faces a growing physician shortage, we must ensure that steep fees do not stand in the way of hospitals bringing in the medical talent American patients depend on. That's why I'm proud to co-lead the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, removing a financial barrier so providers can recruit the physicians they need and ensure families in Florida and across America receive the timely, high-quality healthcare they deserve," said Congresswoman Salazar.

The U.S. healthcare industry relies on the H-1B visa program to recruit physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, particularly in rural and underserved communities facing workforce shortages. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 87 million Americans live in areas federally designated as lacking enough medical professionals to meet community health care needs.

The H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act exempts health care workers, defined under the Affordable Care Act, from the $100,000 fee required for certain H-1B visa petitions under the September 2025 Presidential Proclamation and prohibits additional fees beyond those already established under existing immigration law for these workers.

Endorsing organizations include the American Association of Medical Colleges, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment, Greater New York Hospital Association, Healthcare Association of New York State, and Physicians for American Healthcare Access.

"Patients across the country are feeling the effects of the growing physician shortage. Medicare patients and people in rural and underserved areas already struggle to get the care they need. In many such communities, international medical graduates play an important role in providing care and ensuring patients can see a doctor when they need one. The AMA supports this legislation to ensure the new $100,000 fee does not make it harder to recruit highly skilled physicians. We thank Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY), for introducing this bipartisan bill. The AMA urges Congress to act quickly to protect patients' access to care," said Bobby Mukkamala, MD, President, American Medical Association.

"International medical graduates are essential to health care delivery in communities that would otherwise struggle to access a doctor. The $100,000 H-1B fee could undermine the physician pipeline to the places that need it most, including rural communities, underserved areas, and safety-net hospitals. Physicians for American Healthcare Access (PAHA) applauds Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY) for this bipartisan legislation, and we urge Congress to pass the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act to safeguard patients' access to care," said Dr. Ram Alur, President, Physicians for Americans Healthcare Access.

"The $100,000 H-1B filing fee on health care entities poses a serious challenge to provider recruitment at a time when demand for physicians and other health care professionals continues to grow. Hospitals, health systems, and practices across the country rely on international physicians and health care professionals to meet patient needs. This fee could slow recruitment efforts and make it harder for employers to bring on the providers their communities depend on," said Carey Goryl, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR). AAPPR supports the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act and applauds Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY) for their bipartisan leadership on this issue," said Carey Goryl, CEO, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment.

"The AHA commends Representatives Lawler, Bishop, Salazar, and Clarke for introducing bipartisan legislation that would help maintain patient access to care in communities nationwide. Specifically, this important bill will maintain critical staffing for areas of the country where there are well-documented shortages of health care workers," said Stacey Hughes, Executive Vice President of the American Hospital Association.

"New York's hospitals have long relied on the H-1B visa program to help address healthcare workforce shortages in underserved communities new $100,000 fee for each H-1B visa applicant is jeopardizing hospitals' ability to fill open roles and maintain their patients' access to care, while increasing the cost of providing care. By exempting healthcare workers from this burdensome fee, the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act will help our providers do what they do best - serve their patients. I commend Reps. Mike Lawler and Yvette Clarke for continuing to lead on this critical issue," said Bea Grause, RN, JD, President, Healthcare Association of New York State.

"The H-1B visa program helps ensure that New York hospitals can deliver world-class health care, train the next generation of physicians, and conduct cutting-edge research. The $100,000 filing fee for H-1B visa petitions poses a grave threat to this critical mission. It will further strain hospitals financially, exacerbate ongoing workforce shortages, and diminish access to care. The H-1B Visas for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act will eliminate this onerous fee and ensure that hospitals can continue to care for their communities. I thank Representatives Lawler, Clarke, Salazar, and Bishop for their commitment to strengthening the health care workforce," said Kenneth E. Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE

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