The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (PCRH) is pleased to announce 2 new federal programs to bring physicians to Utah. DHHS can now provide a letter of support for qualifying international physicians applying for a visa waiver through the HHS Exchange Visitor program and for the Physician National Interest Waiver (PNIW) program.
“The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health is dedicated to helping Utah’s health systems provide fair and equitable access to quality clinical services in underserved and rural areas”, said Marc Watterson, Office Director, PCRH. “These two new federal waiver pathways will help bring more physicians to healthcare provider shortage areas in our state, ensuring more Utahns can access medical care.”
Utah has participated in Federal programs to grow the number of U.S. trained physicians serving in the state for the past 20 years. The Conrad State 30/J-1 visa waiver program came to Utah in 2004. With the addition of the HHS Exchange Visitor and PNIW programs, Utah will now have 3 pathways for physicians born outside of the United States who attend graduate medical education within the country.
To qualify for a letter of support for the HHS Exchange Visitor Program, the physician must provide primary care services needed in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), or Medically Underserved Population (MUP) in Utah. Qualifying physicians must agree to deliver healthcare services at this location for 3 years.
The PNIW allows foreign physicians to apply for a Green Card (permanent residence) in exchange for 5 years of service in an underserved area. Individuals of exceptional ability and individuals who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees, like physicians, may qualify. To be eligible for a DHHS letter of support, the applicant must provide documentation that they will be employed in Utah in a position that serves the public interest. Both primary care physicians and specialists may be eligible.
For both the HHS Exchange Visitor and PNIW programs, physicians must work in a federally-designated shortage area with a primary care HPSA score of at least 7. For psychiatrists, a mental health HPSA score of at least 7, or an MUA/MUP designation is required.
After international medical graduates finish their residency or medical schooling, they are required to live in their country of origin for at least 2 years before returning to practice in the U.S. Visa waiver programs allow international medical graduates who participate in graduate medical education programs in the United States to remain in the country to work. Physicians must commit to serve the underserved for a period of 3-5 years to be eligible. Read success stories of visa waiver physicians here in Utah from Fadi Asfour, John Ryan, and Daniela Solzbaucher. Additional eligibility information is available at ruralhealth.utah.gov.