As the United States prepares to transition to a wage-based selection process for H-1B visas and has solicited feedback from stakeholders, the American Hospital Association has notified the Department of Homeland Security that rural hospitals could be adversely affected by the proposed modifications to H-1B selection. The H-1B visa program permits companies to recruit skilled individuals from abroad, including healthcare professionals, with selections made via a random lottery system. However, the current administration intends to shift towards a method where companies offering higher wages will have the greatest likelihood of securing skilled labor from foreign nations. Although the objective of this proposed selection method is to protect entry-level technology positions from foreign competition, the AHA contends that rural hospitals may be disadvantaged due to their inability to provide competitive wages, resulting in a diminished opportunity to attract foreign healthcare workers.
The AHA stated in its letter that the H-1B visa program serves as an essential short-term strategy for US hospitals to attract highly skilled healthcare professionals. “Foreign-trained medical professionals do not replace American workers. Rather, they are vital in enhancing the health of the communities served by our hospitals. They possess high qualifications and must comply with our nation’s educational standards, English proficiency, and state licensing requirements,” it noted.
The association stated that H-1B visa holders in the health care sector are compensated according to their experience in the United States, which is frequently non-existent, despite their prior employment in other countries. “The proposed weighted selection process could be particularly harmful to rural and underserved regions. Hospitals and health systems in these areas encounter significant financial challenges, which limit their capacity to offer higher salaries that might enhance their chances of obtaining H-1B visas through a weighted selection process,” they remarked. In the suggested weighted selection, there are four tiers:
- Level 4: Highest-paying positions, which will receive four entries in the lottery;
- Level 3: Three entries;
- Level 2: Two entries;
- Level 1: Lowest-paying positions, which will receive one entry.
The AHA has recommended that all health care professionals be classified as level 4 to ensure that hospitals receive their fair share of H-1B health care workers.
