HouseH.R. 10707119th Congress
Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10707 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10707
To address barriers immigrants and refugees face to entering the health
care workforce, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 1, 2026
Mr. Smith of Washington (for himself and Mr. Krishnamoorthi) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address barriers immigrants and refugees face to entering the health
care workforce, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDING.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Internationally
Trained Physicians Assistance Act of 2026''.
(b) Finding.--Congress finds that several States have implemented
alternative pathways to licensure for internationally trained
physicians to address health workforce shortages and improve access to
care in underserved communities.
TITLE I--INCENTIVIZING STATES TO ALLOW TRANSITIONAL PRACTICE BY
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES
SEC. 101. GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services may
award grants to States to develop and implement and to build upon
existing programs providing for State-led alternative pathways to
licensure that enable internationally trained physicians to contribute
to patient care while completing steps 1, 2, and 3 of the United States
Medical Licensing Examination. Such programs may allow such physicians
to practice medicine under the supervision of a fully licensed
physician for a duration determined by the State.
(b) Definition.--In this section:
(1) The term ``eligible internationally trained physician''
means an individual who--
(A) graduated from a school of medicine outside of
the United States or Canada; and
(B) is--
(i) lawfully admitted for permanent
residence;
(ii) admitted as a refugee under section
207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1157);
(iii) granted asylum under section 208 of
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1158); or
(iv) a person otherwise authorized to be
employed in the United States.
(2) The term ``State'' includes the District of Columbia
and any territory of the United States.
SEC. 102. EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN ELIGIBLE INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED
PHYSICIANS FROM APPLICATION OF FTE CAP.
(a) In General.--Section 1886(h)(4)(H) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)(H)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new clause:
``(vii) Exemption of certain
internationally trained physicians from
counting towards cap.--
``(I) In general.--For purposes of
applying the limit described in
subparagraph (F), a specified resident
(as defined in subclause (II)) shall
not be taken into account in
determining the total number of full-
time equivalent residents before
application of weighting factors (as
determined under this paragraph) with
respect to a hospital's approved
medical residency training program.
``(II) Specified resident
defined.--For purposes of subclause
(I), the term `specified resident'
means an eligible internationally
trained physician (as defined in
section 101(b) of the Pathways to
Health Care Act of 2022) who is a
resident in a hospital's approved
medical residency training program, but
only if such hospital--
``(aa) has in effect an
agreement with a Federally
qualified health center, or a
hospital located in a rural
area (as defined in subsection
(d)(2)(D)) or that is treated
as being located in a rural
area pursuant to subsection
(d)(8)(E), under which
residents training in such
program spend time training at
such center or hospital;
``(bb) is located in a
State that allows such eligible
internationally trained
physicians to practice medicine
as described in section 101(a)
of such Act; and
``(cc) predominantly serves
medically underserved
populations (as defined in
section 330(b)(3)(A) of the
Public Health Service Act), as
determined by the Secretary.''.
(b) Study on Removal of Resident Cap.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the possibility
of removing the resident cap under section 1886(h)(4)(F) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)(F)).
TITLE II--ASSISTING INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIANS DURING PURSUIT
OF LICENSURE AND EMPLOYMENT
SEC. 201. GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services may
award grants to States to provide assistance to eligible
internationally trained physicians while such graduates are completing
steps 1, 2, and 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination.
(b) Covered Assistance.--Assistance provided to an eligible
internationally trained physician pursuant to this section may include
paying the costs of the United States Medical Licensing Examination,
career counseling, case management, classes in English as a second
language, assistance in diploma verification, and test preparation
courses.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the terms ``eligible
international medical graduate'' and ``State'' have the meanings given
to those terms in section 101.
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