Last week, the CAP submitted a letter urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a national interest exemption from a proposal that will double H-1B visa fees from $100,000 to $203,265 for pathologists and medical and public health laboratory professionals.
Our concerns: We warned that the proposal to double fees could further exacerbate recruitment barriers, worsen existing workforce shortages, and reduce patient access to diagnostic and laboratory services. The letter noted that international medical graduates who are not US citizens play an important role in the pathology workforce and help fill critical staffing needs in rural and underserved communities.
We urged the DHS to:
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Establish a national interest exemption for pathologists and medical and public health laboratory professionals.
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Recognize the critical role these professionals play in maintaining access to diagnostic and laboratory services.
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Avoid policies that could create additional barriers to recruiting qualified laboratory professionals.
Coalition efforts: In addition to submitting our comments, we joined two other letters from:
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A coalition of 49 physician, health care, research and/or patient organizations expressing concerns about the effects of the proposed fee on physician recruitment and patient access to care.
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A coalition of more than 20 pathology and laboratory organizations urging the DHS to withdraw or reduce the proposed fee, establish a health care exemption, and provide a timely waiver for national interest, public health, patient access, and critical workforce needs.