ASE Sends a Letter of Support for the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act

On April 15, ASE sent a letter to Representatives Lawler, Bishop, Salazar, and Clarke expressing strong support for the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act (H.R. 7961). The bipartisan bill would exempt physicians and other health care workers from the $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions imposed by the September 2025 Presidential Proclamation and would prohibit new H-1B fees on health care workers beyond those already established under existing immigration law. ASE previously joined more than 50 medical societies in a coalition letter to the Department of Homeland Security opposing the fee and urging the Administration to exempt physicians from the Proclamation.

International medical graduates account for nearly one in four U.S. physicians and disproportionately serve rural and underserved communities. The $100,000 per-petition fee makes it harder for hospitals and practices to recruit specialty physicians, threatening to shrink the echocardiography workforce at a time when demand for cardiovascular imaging continues to grow. ASE’s endorsement reflects its commitment to protecting the physician pipeline and ensuring patients have access to high-quality echocardiography and cardiovascular care.