Recently, the American Hospital Association (“AHA”) voiced its support for an exemption from the $100,000 H-1B fee for health care workers.
In its letter, AHA urges the federal
government to exempt health care personnel from the $100,000 H‑1B visa fee
established by President Trump’s September 2025 proclamation, “Restriction on
Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” (MU’s blog on the fee is available here)
arguing that the fee threatens hospitals’ ability to recruit and retain
qualified foreign‑trained professionals.
Health care systems across the United States
continue to grapple with profound clinician and nurse shortages that are
projected to deepen significantly in the years ahead.
The H-1B visa is essential to meeting
shortages in health care occupations in the US. In fiscal year 2024 alone, of
nearly 400,000 H‑1B petitions approved, 16,937 (4.2 %)
were for medical and health occupations, including physicians, surgeons, and
registered nurses.
AHA also articulated its strong support for
the bipartisan Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (discussed by MU here).
These combined measures represent a coherent strategy to preserve and expand
the U.S. health care workforce. Ensuring exemption from the fee is not only a
regulatory measure—it is a critical component of maintaining continuous and
equitable access to health services across communities nationwide.
