Hospitals Warn Trump’s H-1B Visa Hike Could Worsen Healthcare Shortages

Hospitals that rely heavily on international workers fear new Trump administration policies could worsen staffing shortages. The administration has proposed raising H-1B visa application fees from a few thousand dollars to as much as $100,000, a cost experts say nonprofit hospitals cannot afford.

The H-1B program, capped at 85,000 visas annually, allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty fields, including healthcare. In 2024, it brought nearly 8,500 new healthcare professionals into the U.S., many filling roles in rural and underserved areas. The American Academy of Family Physicians warns that changes could disproportionately affect international medical graduates, who make up more than 22% of family physicians and are vital in shortage regions.

The administration also plans to restructure the visa lottery to favor higher-paid applicants, potentially sidelining early-career doctors. While exemptions for roles in the “national interest” may soften impacts, healthcare groups fear access to foreign-trained talent will be restricted when it’s needed most.

27-09-2025