Conrad State 30 & Physician Access Act introduced in Senate
The National Rural Health Association applauds the introduction of the bipartisan S.1189, the Conrad State 30 & Physician Access Act introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). This legislation will improve and make permanent the Conrad State 30 program, also known as the J-1 Visa Waiver program. This program was enacted in 1994 as a national initiative that permits states to recommend visa waivers for physicians recruited to care for patients in rural and underserved areas. The Conrad State 30 & Physician Access Act removes the sunset of the program, improves its functioning, and allows it to expand its scope to better meet the needs of rural America. NRHA supports this legislation, which makes great strides in the recruitment of physicians to rural areas and the delivery of vital health care services in rural America. The Conrad State 30 program will help hospitals, clinics and group practices increase access to health care in rural America.