HHS J-1 Physician Waiver Suspended for Clinical Care
Posted Oct 31, 2003

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has temporarily suspended the clinical J-1 waiver program for physicians willing to practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). The program suspension became effective as of October 1, 2003 and HHS stopped taking applications on that date.

This development is rather unfortunate, as the HHS program began only recently, on June 12, 2003. See our article from the June 20, 2003 MurthyBulletin entitled, HHS Accepting Physician Clinical Care J-1 Waiver Applications, available on MurthyDotCom. This suspension involves only clinical care waivers. HHS research waivers are not affected.

The reason for the suspension of the program, according to HHS, is that there is a need for a "policy review." Apparently, further reassessment of the methods of coordination between state health departments and the federal Interested Government Agency is called for. The policy review will also address matters regarding physician placement based on the HPSA or MUA (Medically Underserved Areas) designations of the geographic areas where they will work.

The time required for the review is uncertain at this point. This is a disappointing delay, as it was hoped that the program would fill a void created when the U.S. Department of Agriculture stopped their clinical waiver program for J-1 physicians. There are many parts of the country in serious need of medical doctors that would stand to benefit from the HHS waiver program. There are also many willing and well-qualified J-1 physicians who could fill this need, at least for the three years they are required work in the underserved areas under the terms of the J-1 waiver.