Conrad 30 Physician Workforce Optimization Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4637
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T20:08:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4637: Conrad 30 Physician Workforce Optimization Act
Purpose
This legislation aims to expand opportunities for certain foreign physicians (referred to as alien physicians) on J-1 nonimmigrant visas to work in the United States by increasing available waiver slots and creating a system to match them with unfilled positions across states.
Key Provisions
- Increases the maximum number of "flex waivers" (a type of waiver allowing work outside designated shortage areas under specific conditions) from 10 to 15 per state.
- Directs the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to create a secondary physician match portal for eligible alien physicians who were not selected for waivers in their preferred state or could not apply due to state caps.
- Establishes a secondary match period of up to 60 days, ending before March 1 of the fiscal year, during which states and employers with available waivers can review and interview physicians listed in the portal.
- Requires the portal to include essential application information to simplify the process and mandates that participating employers certify their facilities are in health professional shortage areas, medically underserved areas, or qualify for flex waivers, plus that they have advertised the position without success.
- Instructs the USCIS Director, after consulting state health departments, to publish best practices and core requirements for secondary match applications to ensure consistency.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 214(l)(1)(D)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(l)(1)(D)(ii)) by replacing "10" with "15" to raise the flex waiver limit.
- Adds a new paragraph (4) to Section 214(l) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, introducing the portal mechanism, eligibility criteria for physicians, employer access rules, and related procedures.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Requires USCIS to develop and manage a new portal system, including consultations with state health departments and publication of guidelines.
- On citizens: May increase access to primary and specialty care providers in underserved areas through more efficient placement of physicians.
- On international relations: Facilitates employment pathways for international medical graduates, potentially affecting exchange visitor programs under J-1 visas.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Alien physicians on J-1 visas seeking waivers of the 2-year foreign residence requirement.
- State departments of public health, which handle initial waiver selections and gain access to the portal.
- Employers (such as hospitals or clinics) in states with unfilled waivers, particularly those in shortage or underserved areas.
- The Director of USCIS, responsible for implementing the portal and match process.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Modifies existing immigration procedures under the Immigration and Nationality Act without altering core visa categories or residency requirements.
- Introduces administrative processes for matching that could streamline but also add layers to waiver applications.
- Focuses on workforce distribution in healthcare without addressing broader constitutional questions related to immigration authority.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Conrad 30 Physician Workforce Optimization Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (5 pages)