US lawmakers move to waive $100,000 H-1B fee for doctors, nurses: All you need to know

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A bipartisan bill in the US House seeks to waive the $100,000 H-1B visa fee for foreign healthcare workers, aiming to address staffing shortages in hospitals, especially rural areas. Critics say the fee worsens shortages and faces legal challenges.

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A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to waive the $100,000 H-1B visa fee for foreign healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, according to a report by The New York Times.

The proposed legislation, titled “H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act,” aims to address a growing shortage of medical professionals in the United States by easing the cost burden on hiring foreign talent.

The bill has been introduced by Republican lawmakers Mike Lawler and Maria Elvira Salazar, along with Democrats Sanford D Bishop Jr and Yvette Clarke.

Controversial fee under legal challenge

The $100,000 visa fee was introduced by the Trump administration through a presidential proclamation in September 2025.

The move has since faced multiple legal challenges from nursing unions, Democratic states, and the US Chamber of Commerce. Critics argue that the fee is unlawful and could worsen staffing shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare and education.

According to The New York Times, the high cost is already discouraging hospitals from hiring foreign professionals, particularly in areas that rely heavily on international workers.

US faces looming healthcare shortage

The urgency behind the bill is tied to projections of a severe shortage of healthcare workers.

The American Medical Association estimates that the US could face a shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.

Nursing shortages are also a concern. Data cited by The New York Times shows that around 500,000 of the country’s 3 million registered nurses in 2022 were immigrants, highlighting the sector’s dependence on foreign workers.

Why H-1B visas matter for healthcare

The H-1B visa programme allows skilled foreign professionals to work in the United States in sectors such as technology, education and healthcare.

In the medical field, it has become a crucial pipeline for staffing hospitals, especially in rural areas where attracting domestic talent is often difficult.

Brian Thomas, CEO of Jefferson Regional Medical Centre, told Arkansas Business that foreign professionals fill a critical gap. “This talent is otherwise not available to come to rural parts of the country,” he said.

Many rural hospitals depend on international doctors and nurses to maintain basic healthcare services.

Rural America at risk

Medical groups have warned that the steep visa fee could disrupt this pipeline and leave underserved regions without adequate care.

Following the introduction of the fee, the American Medical Association, along with 53 other medical societies, urged the Department of Homeland Security to exempt healthcare workers.

AMA President Bobby Mukkamala highlighted the risks in an interview with The New York Times.

“I live in Flint, Michigan, a very medically underserved place that really depends on international medical graduates. If this doesn’t get fixed, it leaves places like my hometown and other rural communities without enough physicians to take care of that population,” he said.

He added, “In many such communities, international medical graduates play a vital role in providing care and ensuring patients can see a doctor when they need one.”

Political divide over H-1B programme

The H-1B visa programme has become a contentious issue in US politics.

Critics within the Trump administration and its supporters have argued that the programme allows employers to replace American workers with foreign hires.

There have been multiple attempts to restrict or phase out the programme, including a proposal by Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene.

However, the healthcare sector presents a different reality. Many hospitals, particularly in rural areas, say they cannot function without international staff.

The new bill reflects a growing recognition among lawmakers that limiting access to foreign healthcare professionals could deepen the country’s medical staffing crisis rather than solve it.