CONRAD 30 in Limbo

CONRAD 30

The Conrad 30 program is set to expire in September 30, 2015, unless Congress reauthorizes the program. It has been functioning as a “pilot program” meaning that its continued existence has been dependent upon periodic reauthorization. Conrad 30 allows state healthcare agencies to hire 30 international medical graduate (IMG) physicians to practice in medically underserved areas. Those areas are often rural and are in need of both general physicians and specialists. By serving for three years in medically underserved areas, the physicians can waive their 2-year residence requirement, which is often a condition of the J-1 exchange visitor program.

The program has existed since 1994 and has been reauthorized by Congress multiple times, with the most recent reauthorization occurring in September 2012. The program is important for many reasons. A primary reason is that the areas that the IMGs are placed are most in need of healthcare. Another reason is that the current and predicted shortage of physicians that the US is facing and will continue to face. An additional reason is the trend of American physicians to opt for specialties over general practice, leading to a dearth of primary care physicians.

Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota have proposed Conrad 30 and Physician Access Act (S.1189).  The bill is cosponsored by Senator Moran of Kansas and Senator Collins of Maine. The bill’s purpose is to reauthorize the program and to do so permanently, “to provide incentives to physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities and for other purposes.” The bill’s purpose is to reauthorize the program and to do so permanently. Even though Conrad 30 expires on September 30, 2015, there has been little movement on this bill to make it a law. If the program is not reauthorized, either temporarily or permanently, IMGs who acquire J-1 status after September 30, 2015 will not be able to receive waivers. Congress is currently on summer recess until September 8.