The U.S. is heading toward a severe physician workforce shortage \u2014 and recent visa restrictions threaten to accelerate the problem.<\/p>\n
On September 25, 2025, the American Medical Association (AMA), joined by dozens of national medical societies, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging that physicians be exempt from the administration\u2019s new proclamation imposing a $100,000 employer-paid fee for H-1B visa applications. The proclamation does allow exemptions for workers deemed to be in the \u201cnational interest,\u201d and the AMA insists that physicians must be included.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaintaining a robust health care workforce in the U.S. that can address the health needs of all our U.S. patients is in the best interest of the health of our nation,\u201d the AMA letter states. It notes a projected shortfall of nearly 86,000 physicians by 2036, adding: \u201cH-1B physicians play a critical role in filling this void, especially in areas of the U.S. with high-need populations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Te AMA underscores how dependent the system already is on foreign-trained doctors. In 2024, 23% of licensed U.S. physicians were foreign-trained. Among them, 64% practiced in Medically Underserved Areas or Health Professional Shortage Areas, and nearly 46% in rural communities. Over the past two decades, almost 23,000 H-1B physicians have worked in underserved communities. \u201cNearly 21 million Americans live in areas where foreign-trained physicians account for at least half of all doctors,\u201d the AMA notes, warning that the new financial barrier could cut off this critical supply.<\/p>\n
The American Hospital Association (AHA) reinforced the alarm in its own letter to the administration on September 29, 2025. The AHA projected a shortage of 187,130 physicians by 2037, calling the gap \u201ca clear threat to access and equity in patient care.\u201d The association also flagged severe nursing shortages, estimating deficits of up to 13% in rural hospitals. The AHA urged the administration to explicitly exempt health care personnel from the H-1B changes, writing:<\/p>\n
\u201cHospitals and health systems cannot meet the health needs of their communities without continued access to international medical graduates and other essential workers.\u201d<\/p>\n