Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act introduced in United States Senate
The National Rural Health Association supports S. 616, the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), will improve and make permanent the State 30 program. The Conrad State 30 Program, also known as the J-1 Visa Waiver 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 and 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. Click here for NRHA’s letter of support.