Bill to eliminate Conrad cap for foreign born physicians

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 1:47 AM

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 2016 -- 5/11/2009 >>>>>

A new bill has been introduced that will eliminate existing limits on the
number of foreign-born physicians who can work in the U.S. The bill would make
the change permanent (see note at end of commentary). Currently, under the
existing Conrad 30 program, states are limited to 30 foreign doctor exemptions
per year. If this bill becomes law, there will be no limits, so states can
import as many foreign doctors as they want.

The "Conrad State 30 Improvement Act" (S.628) was introduced into the Senate
by Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND] on 3/18/2009.

This newsletter won't go into detail about foreign doctors in the U.S. or the
Conrad-30 program, because a recent newsletter discussed this program in
detail. To read it go to the archives and look up this one:

2009-04-03 J-1 Doctors abused in Nevada

You can watch videos by a lawyer named Shusterman (Shysterman would be more
accurate) on foreign doctors and the Conrad program. In this video he explains
his business:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGX0joOLMok

"One of the main things we do is we immigrate foreign born doctors
to the United States".
-- Carl Shusterman, Immigration 101 for Physicians

Nice business, huh?

If Shyster's smile isn't enough to make you want to see a gastroenterologist,
the content of the video surely will! Shysterman has reason to smile and be
happy because he makes lots of money off H-1B doctors and other types of
imported labor.

The new bill will remove the limit of 30 doctor exemptions per state.
Numerical limits will be removed for the following types of physicians who
completed their residencies/fellowship:

* H-1B physicians who agree to work in medically-underserved areas for at
least three years. The H-1B visa can be good for a six-year maximum duration.

* The Green Card EB-2 visa cap will be eliminated for physicians born in India
who normally wait over five years to obtain permanent residence.
Expect to see a lot more born-in-India doctors at local cut-rate medical
clinics.

The following text in the bill is what makes it unlimited. You can read the
entire bill in its entirety at Thomas.gov

SEC. 3. INCENTIVES FOR PHYSICIANS TO PRACTICE IN MEDICALLY
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
(12) An alien physician described in section 212(j)(2)(B) who
entered the United States as a nonimmigrant described in
section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) to pursue graduate medical
education or training shall not be subject to the limitations
described in paragraphs (1) and (4), provided that the period
of authorized admission of such alien as an H-1B nonimmigrant
may not extend beyond the 6-year period beginning on the date
on which the alien receives the exemption described in
subparagraph (A)

In conclusion, the Conrad "improvement" program is a backdoor attempt to raise
the H-1B cap. That's because if more foreign medical students can get a Conrad
waiver there will be more H-1B visas left over for programmers and engineers.
We can expect more bills like this that whittle away at the H-1B cap without
having to actually raise it. The OPT extension is another example of this
incremental strategy.

NOTE: Currently the Conrad 30 program needs to be renewed by Congress.
S.628 will make the change permanent in order to eliminate the need for
extending the program -- which means that Congress and the President no longer
have to take responsibility for renewing it. The Conrad 30 extension was
passed by the House of Representatives on 3/4/09, and by the Senate on
3/11/09. On March 20th, President Obama signed H.R. 1127 to extend Conrad 30
and the Religious Worker visa through 9/30/09. Could it be they expect
S.628 to pass by then?

The "R" visa is widely used by Muslim, Catholic, and Jewish religious
organizations. Be sure to go to the newsletter archive to read: The "R"
visa, February 13, 2003.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://conrad.senate.gov/pressroom/record.cfm?id=310004

Press Releases

March 18, 2009

Momentum Builds for Conrad State 30 Program Senator Works to Expand Program
Bringing More Doctors to Rural Communities

Washington -- In an effort to bring more health care professionals to
America s rural communities, Senator Kent Conrad today introduced bipartisan
legislation to expand the Conrad State 30 program, a national initiative
designed to bring doctors to areas plagued by a shortage of physicians.

"All too often, families in rural areas of North Dakota are forced to travel
great distances for routine health care. That is unacceptable. We need doctors
where their patients are -- in the communities," Senator Conrad said. "This
expanded version of the Conrad State 30 program will bring more doctors to
more communities, allowing patients access to vital services right in their
hometown."

Senator Conrad created the popular State 30 program through legislation he
first introduced in 1994. Under the program, foreign-born but American-trained
doctors provide health care to people living in underserved communities for at
least three years in exchange for an extension of their stay in the United
States.

Although the program has an important component that allows for certain
specialists and other doctors to serve in more urban areas of North Dakota,
the legislation introduced today will make it easier for the truly rural areas
in the state to recruit primary care and family doctors.

The physician shortage in America is a growing crisis. By 2020, some
projections show the nation may fall short by as many as 200,000 doctors.
This shortage will be felt hardest in rural areas in North Dakota -- and
across the nation.

The Conrad State 30 Program has brought more than 100 doctors to North Dakota
communities that otherwise would have experienced a lack of physician
coverage.

"The Conrad State 30 Improvement Act builds on what was already a very
successful program. It will expand the number of doctors in rural communities
in North Dakota and across the nation increasing access to the quality health
care people need and deserve," said Mary Amundson, an assistant professor at
UND s Center for Rural Health."

Senator Conrad s legislation is being co-sponsored by Senators Sam Brownback
(R-Kan), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Patty Murray (D-
Wash.)

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