Foreign doctors’ input facilitated

Foreign physicians practicing medicine in Nevada on a federal J-1 visa waiver may alert state health officials to any concerns they might have about the program or its sponsoring physicians.

The Nevada State Health Division launched a complaint and comment form on its Web site on Monday.

In addition, the health agency will have a meeting on Dec. 14 to discuss possible changes to Nevada's J-1 Physician Waiver Program policies and procedures, spokeswoman Martha Framsted said.

Physicians can access the form at http://health.nv.gov. Any information provided can be kept confidential.

The goal of the form is to strengthen the program in Nevada and to ensure that sponsoring physicians are adhering to federal laws governing the program, health officials say. In recent weeks, state health officials and legislators have raised concerns about some J-1 Visa physicians being taken advantage of by their employers. Most notably, concerns were raised about some doctors not meeting work requirements in underserved areas as mandated under the federal program's guidelines.

Started in 1994 under a federal law, the J-1 Physician Waiver Program allows international medical graduates who have completed a residency or a fellowship in the United States to remain in the country for three years if they sign a contract to work in a clinic in an identified Health Professional Shortage Area.

Typically physicians not born in the United States but who complete a medical residency or fellowship in the country are required to return to their country for two years. The J-1 waiver program was started to help the United States offset a shortage of primary care physicians in certain rural areas.

The Health Division also plans to send letters to participating employers and physicians outlining its upcoming examination of the state's J-1 program. That examination will include an auditing process in which Health Division staff will make unannounced site visits to ensure compliance.

The Health Division also plans to re-examine federal requirements and how the requirements compare with the state's process and rules to ensure compliance.

Under the J-1 program, states may provide 30 visa waivers per year. Since 2003, Nevada has approved 51.