Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act

Increased Physician Access via Program Extension: The bill extends the Conrad State 30 program for three years, which helps provide incentives for physicians to work in underserved areas (Section 2).

Pathways to Permanent Residency: The bill allows certain alien physicians who completed service requirements, including their spouses and children, to file petitions for classification or adjustment of status (Section 3).

Employment Protections and Flexibility: Physicians can demonstrate a bona fide offer of full-time employment at a health facility in a shortage area to receive exceptions to the two-year foreign residency requirement (Section 4).

Workplace Safety and Clarity: Employment agreements must now specify maximum on-call hours, compensation for that time, and details regarding medical malpractice liability protection (Section 4).

Increased Waiver Allotments: All states may be allotted a total of 35 waivers, with potential increases if specific usage thresholds are met (Section 5).

Support for Academic Medical Centers: State agencies can request waivers for physicians to practice in or serve on the faculty of an academic medical center (Section 5).

Easier Transition for Training: Physicians completing graduate medical education have their nonimmigrant status automatically extended under certain conditions to ensure continuity (Section 6).

Employment Restrictions: An alien granted a waiver must enter into an employment agreement that specifies certain limitations, such as work locations (Section 4).

Service Requirements: Physicians are generally required to work for a total of not less than 3 years in the authorized status (Section 4).

Strict Agreement Constraints: Employment agreements are prohibited from including non-compete provisions (Section 4).

Potential for Reduced Waivers: The number of waivers allotted to all states may be decreased by 5 if the total number of waivers granted falls by 5 percent compared to a previous year (Section 5).