Bipartisan Bill to Exempt Foreign-Trained Healthcare Workers from H-1B Visa Fee

TL/DR –

The Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act was introduced by House lawmakers on March 17. The bipartisan bill would exempt foreign-trained health care workers from the $100,000 H-1B visa filing fee and prevent any new fees higher than the current ones from being applied to health care workers. The American Hospital Association (AHA) supports the legislation, stating it would help maintain critical medical staff in parts of the country where there are well-documented shortages of healthcare professionals.

Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Exempt Foreign Health Care Workers from H-1B Visa Filing Fee

The Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, a bipartisan bill exempting foreign-trained health care professionals from the $100,000 H-1B visa filing fee, was introduced by house lawmakers on March 17. Initiated by the 2025 presidential proclamation, the bill, supported by Reps. Mike Lawler, Sanford D. Bishop Jr., Maria Elvira Salazar, and Yvette Clarke, intends to prevent elevated H-1B fees on health care workers.

AHA Advocates for Exemption to Maintain Patient Care Nationwide

The American Hospital Association (AHA) applauded the bill, which aims to continue patient care access in regions experiencing health care worker shortages. “The AHA commends the representatives for launching a bill that will maintain crucial staffing in shortage-hit areas,” expressed AHA Executive Vice President Stacey Hughes.

H-1B Visa Fee May Force Reduction in Health Services

In September 2025, the AHA petitioned the administration to exclude health care personnel from the new fee, warning that it may deter many hospitals from utilizing the program and potentially result in service cutbacks.

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