How Do We Solve the Problem of Doctor Shortages in Rural America?

The Wall Street Journal takes a close look at physician shortages in rural areas, noting that the problem is getting worse because of "an unusual tale of two visa programs." The J-1 visa waiver program since 1994 has allowed foreign physicians to become eligible for green cards, so long as they agree to work for three years in medically underserved areas. The program "has provided more than 1,000 doctors annually to underserved areas, outperforming scholarship and loan programs designed to attract young U.S. doctors to these same places," the Journal reports. Health centers like Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, which is featured in the WSJ story, rely on the J-1 visa program for their work force. But because of an expansion of the H1-B visa waiver program enacted in 2000 to provide U.S. companies with more foreign high-tech workers, hundreds of foreign physicians "are bypassing the J-1" and "are securing an H1-B, which doesn't require the rural stint," says WSJ. Now the number of foreign physicians with J-1 visas has dropped from 11,000 in 1995-1996 to 6,000 in 2005-2006. You can read the full story here. Download wall_street_journal_article_yakima_doctors.pdf