US Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Waive $100,000 H-1B Fee for Healthcare Workers
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced new legislation aimed at exempting foreign healthcare professionals from a steep $100,000 H-1B visa fee. Titled the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, the bill was introduced on March 17 by Representatives Mike Lawler, Maria Elvira Salazar, Yvette Clarke, and Sanford Bishop Jr. The proposal seeks to address growing workforce shortages in the healthcare sector by removing financial barriers for hospitals and medical institutions recruiting international doctors and nurses.
The fee, imposed through a presidential proclamation in September 2025 under the Trump administration, has faced widespread criticism and legal challenges from nursing unions, Democratic-led states, and the US Chamber of Commerce. Critics argue the fee is unlawful and could worsen staffing shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare and education. According to the American Medical Association, the US could face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, while immigrant workers already make up a significant portion of the nursing workforce.
Lawmakers backing the bill emphasized that hospitals, particularly in rural and underserved areas, depend heavily on the H-1B visa program to fill staffing gaps. They warned that the high fee could effectively shut healthcare providers out of the program, limiting access to care for millions of Americans. The legislation will now move through the House for committee review and potential voting, marking a key step in efforts to strengthen the nation’s healthcare workforce.
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