Bill Overview
Title: International Medical Graduates Assistance Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes grants and makes other changes to facilitate the practice of medicine by international medical graduates who are lawfully present in the United States and graduated from a medical school outside of the United States or Canada. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services may award grants for states and territories to establish programs that allow such international medical graduates to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician while completing the first two steps of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination, and provide assistance (e.g., costs to take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination and career counseling) to such international medical graduates. The bill also exempts under certain circumstances such international medical graduates from the cap on full-time equivalent residents that is otherwise applicable for purposes of graduate medical education payments under Medicare.
Sponsors: Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
Target Audience
Population: International Medical Graduates (IMGs) worldwide
Estimated Size: 250000
- The bill focuses on international medical graduates, which include those who have completed medical school outside the United States or Canada.
- These individuals are part of a global community as many countries send medical students for abroad education.
- The bill addresses medical graduates who are lawfully present in the United States, which implies they hold some form of legal residency or visa status in the U.S.
- The target population includes existing international medical graduates in the U.S. and potential future graduates who may seek residency in the U.S. for training and work.
Reasoning
- The policy is designed to enable international medical graduates (IMGs) to more easily integrate into the U.S. healthcare system. This group is crucial due to the physician shortage in certain areas of the country.
- The budget is likely sufficient to cover a significant number of IMGs initially, but given the high costs associated with medical licensing and residency, the impact of the policy might vary significantly among different individuals.
- We should also consider the potential ripple effects on communities where these IMGs will work, especially in underserved areas where access to healthcare is limited.
- Some in the U.S. population, such as current medical students or those concerned about competition in the job market, might perceive this policy as a challenge, while communities lacking adequate medical care might welcome the increased number of practitioners.
Simulated Interviews
International Medical Graduate (Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might help me finally complete my U.S. licensing more affordably.
- I look forward to working in rural areas where doctors are needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Resident physician (California)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can greatly reduce the financial burden I face for licensing.
- Access to more training resources can make my journey as a doctor smoother.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Permanent resident, Medical academic advisor (New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will streamline many processes my advisees struggle with.
- It should significantly reduce the attrition rate of talented IMG doctors in the U.S.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
U.S. medical student (Florida)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about increased competition for residency spots due to this policy.
- I believe it could strain the already tight market for new doctors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Healthcare Administrator (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our network desperately needs more qualified doctors, and this policy could fill that gap.
- We look forward to reducing patient wait times and expanding services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Doctor (Ohio)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might be a gamechanger for the new generation of international doctors.
- It's essential we continue mentoring them for successful integration into the U.S. healthcare system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Policy Analyst (Georgia)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could greatly enhance the healthcare system's ability to serve underserved areas.
- There's a smarter allocation of the healthcare workforce potential.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Legal Immigration Advisor (Illinois)
Age: 55 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More streamlined processes will help expedite legal compliance for IMGs.
- This bill is a step forward in aligning immigration policy with healthcare needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Primary Care Physician (Virginia)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The influx of new IMGs could improve patient care where it's needed the most.
- However, there are concerns about supervising additional incoming physicians.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Registered Nurse (New Mexico)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative might relieve some of the workload pressures we currently face.
- More physicians could lead to better patient outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1500000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 3: $1500000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 5: $1500000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Program cost estimates have uncertainties due to unknown participation rates.
- Grant costs depend on the scope and number of state and territory programs developed.
- Potential legal challenges when amending existing caps under Medicare payments.
- Long-term effects of increased healthcare workforce on system-wide efficiencies and overall healthcare costs.