U.S. Representatives Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, chair of the New Democrat Coalition Health Care Working Group, and Emilia Sykes, D-Alabama, chair of Coalition’s Housing Task Force, on Thursday led members of the New Democrat Coalition and other lawmakers in a letter calling on the Department of Homeland Security to exempt health care workers from a new H-1B visa fee that is now in effect and “already placing added strain on hospitals and health care providers.”
In September 2025, the Trump administration implemented a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa petitions, a dramatic increase that health care leaders warn will worsen workforce shortages, raise costs and reduce access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities, according to Sewell’s press release.
The United States is already facing critical shortages of physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers and other medical professionals.
“Providers say the fee is already making it harder to recruit and retain doctors, especially in pediatric and specialty care. They also note that rural communities are particularly vulnerable due to limited infrastructure, transportation challenges, and fewer local medical professionals. The added cost and uncertainty for employers threatens innovation, research, and the quality of patient care across the region,” Sewell’s release shared.
“As Members of Congress, access to health care is one of our top priorities,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Proclamation issued September 19, 2025, poses a serious threat to the healthcare workforce in our districts. Fewer healthcare workers means higher costs, longer wait times, and greater distance traveled for our constituents to access the care they need. We urge the administration to prevent any disruptions in access to care and exempt health care professionals from these fees.”
The lawmakers urged the administration to act quickly to exempt health care professionals from the new fee and prevent further disruptions to patient care nationwide.
