- Many states are hoping to shore up physician shortages in rural communities by easing restrictions for doctors from other countries to get medically licensed in the U.S. In the past, every state required doctors who completed a foreign residency or similar program abroad to repeat the process in the U.S. before receiving a full medical license.
- However, the Federation of State Medical Boards says that since 2023, at least nine states have dropped the rule for some physicians with foreign training, as more than a dozen states consider similar changes.
- Supporters of the change argue qualified doctors shouldn’t have to complete another residency which takes years, and expediting the process could address medical care shortages in underserved areas.
Full Story
Many states are hoping to shore up physician shortages in rural communities by easing restrictions for doctors from other countries to get a medical license in the U.S., according to a report from NPR on Monday, March 3.
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In the past, every state required doctors who completed a foreign residency or similar program abroad to repeat the process in the U.S. before receiving a full medical license.
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How many states does this change impact?
However, the Federation of State Medical Boards says that since 2023, at least nine states have dropped the rule for some physicians with foreign training, as more than a dozen other states consider similar changes.
What are supporters of the change saying?
Supporters of the change argue qualified doctors shouldn’t have to complete another residency, which takes years, and expediting the process could address medical care shortages in underserved areas.
What are critics saying?
Meanwhile, critics contend that dropping the requirement puts patients at risk and does little to address rural shortages of medical practitioners.
Barbara Parker, a registered nurse and former Arizona Republican lawmaker, has opposed repeated efforts from her state’s legislature to loosen the residency requirements for licenses. Parker told NPR that she is concerned it will lead to hospitals hiring underqualified doctors to save money and hurt patient care in the process.
What are experts saying?
A commission of national health organizations said even if residency mandates are dropped, doctors in foreign programs still face obstacles to employment.
In states where the residency rules are loosened, licenses are only available to internationally trained doctors who meet specific conditions, including working as a physician for several years after graduation and completing residency programs commensurate with those in the U.S.
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Ten bills and laws in states that are considering, or have adopted, the change also require foreign-trained doctors to work for several years in rural or underserved communities to address gaps in patient care.
Tennessee does not have this requirement, and medical researchers say it may mean rural shortages are not being addressed in the state as a result.
[KARAH RUCKER]
MANY STATES ARE HOPING TO EASE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES BY EASING RESTRICTIONS FOR DOCTORS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO GET A MEDICAL LICENSE IN THE U-S.
IN THE PAST- EVERY STATE REQUIRED DOCTORS WHO COMPLETED A FOREIGN RESIDENCY OR SIMILAR PROGRAM ABROAD TO REPEAT THE PROCESS IN THE U-S BEFORE RECEIVING A FULL MEDICAL LICENSE.
THE FEDERATION OF STATE MEDICAL BOARDS, HOWEVER, SAYS SINCE 2023, AT LEAST NINE STATES HAVE DROPPED THE RULE FOR SOME PHYSICIANS WITH FOREIGN TRAINING AND MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES ARE CONSIDERING IT.
SUPPORTERS OF THE CHANGE ARGUE QUALIFIED DOCTORS SHOULDN’T HAVE TO COMPLETE ANOTHER RESIDENCY WHICH TAKES YEARS AND IT ADDRESSES SHORTAGES OF MEDICAL CARE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.
CRITICS CONTEND DROPPING THE REQUIREMENT PUTS PATIENTS AT RISK AND DOES LITTLE TO ADDRESS RURAL SHORTAGES OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.
BARBARA PARKER, A REGISTERED NURSE AND FORMER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER IN ARIZONA, OPPOSES REPEATED EFFORTS FROM HER STATE’S LEGISLATURE TO LOOSEN THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSES.
SHE’S CONCERNED IT WILL LEAD TO HOSPITALS HIRING UNDER-QUALIFIED DOCTORS TO SAVE MONEY AND HURT PATIENT CARE.
THE COMMISSION OF NATIONAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS SAYS EVEN IF RESIDENCY MANDATES ARE DROPPED, DOCTORS IN FOREIGN PROGRAMS STILL FACE OBSTACLES TO EMPLOYMENT.
IN STATES WHERE THE RESIDENCY RULES ARE LOOSENED, LICENSES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED DOCTORS WHO MEET SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, INCLUDING WORKING AS A PHYSICIAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND COMPLETING RESIDENCY PROGRAMS SIMILAR IN DIFFICULTY TO U-S PROGRAMS.
10 BILLS AND LAWS IN STATES CONSIDERING OR WHO’VE ADOPTED THE CHANGE ALSO REQUIRE FOREIGN-TRAINED DOCTORS TO WORK FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN RURAL OR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS GAPS IN PATIENT CARE.
TENNESSEE DOES NOT HAVE THIS REQUIREMENT AND MEDICAL RESEARCHERS SAY IT MAY MEAN RURAL SHORTAGES DO NOT GET ADDRESSED IN THE STATE AS A RESULT.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.
Media Landscape
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Bias Summary
- A growing number of states are easing licensing for foreign-trained physicians, which supporters claim may address physician shortages in rural areas.
- At least nine states have dropped the requirement for foreign-trained doctors to repeat U.S. residency.
- Some lawmakers predict these changes will boost the rural health workforce, while critics raise concerns about patient safety and corporate interests, as voiced by Barbara Parker.
- The advisory commission urges data collection on new rules, highlighting the uncertainties in effectively implementing these licensing pathways.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize the urgency of easing licensing rules amid a reported healthcare crisis, framing foreign-trained physicians as essential.
Media outlets in the center
provide a balanced overview, highlighting potential benefits while emphasizing uncertainties and concerns raised by critics, particularly regarding patient safety.
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Bias Distribution
13 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
13
Leaning Left
4
Center
4
Leaning Right
0
Last Updated
1 day ago
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