ND North News

U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) have introduced the bipartisan Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, aimed at addressing health care worker shortages in the United States by making a limited number of green cards available to qualified immigrant doctors and nurses. The American Hospital Association has projected a shortage of about 100,000 critical health care workers by 2028, with rural communities facing particularly severe gaps in access to medical professionals.

Rural areas currently have significantly fewer physicians and specialists compared to urban centers, according to data from the National Rural Health Association. There are about 30 physicians or specialists per 100,000 people in rural regions versus 263 per 100,000 in urban areas. Additionally, the Rural Health Information Hub reports that rural communities have nearly 64 registered nurses per 10,000 people compared to 97 per 10,000 in urban locations.

The proposed legislation would allow for the “recapture” of green cards previously authorized but unused by Congress—up to 25,000 visas for nurses and up to 15,000 for physicians—without increasing overall immigration numbers.

“Highly trained immigrant doctors and nurses are a critical part of our workforce, and they provide valuable patient care at clinics and hospitals across North Dakota and throughout the country,” said Senator Cramer. “In many cases, these clinicians provide the only specialty care that’s available in their community. Our bill recognizes this urgent need can be addressed in part at least through a realignment towards merit-based immigration. It’ll allow highly skilled professionals to assist in solving the workforce and patient care demands of our communities without adding any numbers to the immigrant roster, just a realignment.”

Senator Durbin added: “Immigrant nurses and doctors have always played a critical role in our health care system, and they saw us through the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of caring for patients, it’s unacceptable that thousands of trained health care professionals currently working in the U.S. on temporary visas are stuck in the green card backlog while our country faces dire health care shortages. The bipartisan Health Care Workforce Resilience Act strengthens the health care workforce and helps to address the extensive immigration backlog.”

The bill requires employers to attest that immigrants receiving these visas will not displace American workers. Eligible medical professionals must meet licensing requirements, pay filing fees, and pass national security as well as criminal background checks before obtaining green cards.

Support for this legislation comes from organizations such as the North Dakota Long Term Care Association (NDLTCA), North Dakota Hospital Association (NDHA), and North Dakota Medical Association (NDMA).

“We are grateful for Senator Cramer’s leadership in championing the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act,” said NDLTCA representatives. “International nurses not only provide compassionate care to our seniors, but also bring stability to a health care workforce under great strain. By allowing more nurses to build their careers here in North Dakota, this legislation helps ensure that our long term care facilities remain strong, our economy continues to grow, and our communities benefit from the skills, dedication, and heart these professionals contribute each day.”

The NDHA commented: “On behalf of the North Dakota Hospital Association and its 46 member hospitals, we appreciate Senator Cramer’s leadership in introducing the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act,” adding that “this legislation would address the health care workforce shortages facing North Dakota hospitals and provide needed flexibility for hiring both highly trained international nurses and physicians. Both professionals play such critical roles when providing patient care.”

According to NDMA: “Increasing the number of visas available can open employment pathways for more physicians to better serve North Dakota in high-need areas, such as in rural health care settings and filling underserved specialty areas across North Dakota,” noting further that “having the ability to access unused visas to advance health care is a smart move and should be supported.”

National groups endorsing this act include organizations like National Rural Health Association; American Health Care Association; American Hospital Association; American Medical Association; American Academy of Neurology; Healthcare Leadership Council; Physicians for American Healthcare Access; National Kidney Foundation; Adventist Health Policy Association; Society of Hospital Medicine; National Immigration Forum; American College of Physicians; Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment; Bipartisan Policy Center Action; FWD.us; AdventHealth; Adventist HealthCare.

Cosponsors listed on this bill include U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Todd Young (R-IN).