Healthcare Providers Seek Bipartisan Support for Visa Fee Exemption
Healthcare providers are seeking bipartisan support to exempt medical professionals from a new $100,000 fee for high-skilled visa holders. Despite the Republican party's stance, some providers are turning to lawmakers like Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) for help.
The U.S. Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has not yet made a decision regarding this exemption. Hospitals and medical groups warn that this policy could exacerbate staffing shortages in rural communities, which already rely heavily on immigrant visa-holders in healthcare. They argue that the fee could deter medical professionals from seeking work in the U.S., further straining the workforce.
The future of this exemption remains uncertain, as the Trump administration has not yet responded to the pleas from healthcare providers. The impact on rural communities and the broader healthcare workforce is a significant concern for those advocating for the exemption.
