Immigration and the physician shortage: Physicians can help drive immigration reform

Tom Price, M.D., says one of the most effective ways physicians can support health care immigration reform is also one of the simplest: keep the conversation going.

The former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary explains how physicians, medical groups and practices can advocate for change by communicating the urgent workforce needs they see every day.

"Hospitals are doing so, medical groups are doing so, medical organizations are doing so," Price said. "State medical societies, especially, are doing so."

The key, he said, is education — helping the public and policymakers understand how immigration policy affects real-world access to care.

"It doesn’t take somebody in the health sphere to recognize the need,” Price said. “If you go into any nursing home or long-term care facility or even hospitals, you’ll notice wings of buildings that aren’t being utilized — most often that's because of workforce."

He added that immigration reform should include high standards for education and training, including options for further U.S.-based training when needed, particularly those serving in rural or underserved areas.