capitol hill report: 30 years of conrad 30
May 20, 2024
Issue in Focus
On May 8th, the AAN hosted a congressional briefing in the US Capitol Building alongside the American Medical Association (AMA) and Physicians for American Healthcare Access (PAHA) in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Conrad 30 program.
During the event, a panel of physicians and subject matter experts was joined by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representative David Valadao (R-CA) to brief lawmakers on the importance of the Conrad 30 program and the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4942/S. 665). AAN members David B. Watson, MD, FAAN, and Umer Najib, MD, FAHS, were part of the distinguished panel and did a wonderful job representing neurology and the physician community. The bill highlighted in the briefing is already seeing an uptick in cosponsors, speaking to the importance of AAN member-driven advocacy on Capitol Hill.
The Conrad 30 program plays a critical role in increasing access to physicians. Authorized in 1994, it incentivizes international medical graduates (IMG) who complete their residency in the United States to remain here and practice in rural and underserved areas. Without the program, these areas would struggle to recruit and retain physicians—making it a crucial part of efforts to make quality health care more accessible.
How Does It Work?
IMG physicians receive gold-standard residency training in the US while on a J-1 visa. Without a Conrad 30 waiver, these physicians would then be required to return to their home counties for two years before being able to come back to the US to care for our nation’s patients. The Conrad 30 Program allows each state to provide up to 30 waivers for the two-year home country return requirement for J-1 visa holders in exchange for working in an underserved area for three years. Because of this program, highly skilled physicians can stay in the US where they are most needed and use their expertise to improve patient care in our most vulnerable communities.
About the Bill
While the Conrad 30 program is successful, reforms and modernized policies are urgently needed to continue to attract IMGs to underserved areas. The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act would reauthorize and expand the Conrad 30 Program, while also providing critical improvements to help bolster and streamline its ability to increase access to care for underserved populations.
Interested in getting involved? Send your legislators a message to support this legislation!
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