H-1B Visa Fee Exemption for Doctors & Healthcare Workers Proposed

A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday to exempt physicians and other healthcare workers from a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, a measure implemented last September. The “Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act” aims to alleviate potential staffing shortages exacerbated by the new financial burden on foreign-trained medical professionals.

The bill, sponsored by Representatives Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-Ga.), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), and Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), would not only waive the fee for healthcare workers but as well prevent the imposition of future H-1B fees exceeding existing levels, according to a press release from Congressman Lawler’s office.

The $100,000 fee was established through a presidential proclamation in September 2025, and the American Hospital Association (AHA) immediately raised concerns that it would hinder hospitals’ ability to utilize the H-1B program and potentially lead to reductions in services. The AHA subsequently requested the administration exempt healthcare workers from the fee.

“Communities in the Hudson Valley and across the country depend on healthcare workers, and this legislation makes sure they can continue delivering critical care,” said Congressman Lawler. He further emphasized that the exemption aligns with the stated national interest outlined in the original proclamation, given the ongoing workforce shortages within the healthcare sector.

The legislation comes after Representatives Lawler and Clarke previously led a coalition of 100 members of Congress in urging the Department of Homeland Security to exempt the healthcare sector from the fee. The AHA has publicly commended the lawmakers for introducing the bipartisan bill, stating it would help maintain patient access to care nationwide.

The bill’s introduction follows a webinar scheduled by the AHA for March 19, focused on strategies for leaders to strengthen the clinical workforce through improved retention and physician well-being. The AHA also recently featured an encore episode of its “Advancing Health” podcast highlighting Duke Health’s efforts to address hypertension disparities.