HR10707Referred to Committee

Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act of 2026

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-10-01
Introduced
1
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Democrat · WA · Representative
Votes with party: 98.7% (630 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/S000510

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (1)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

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.

2026-10-01

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

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Plain-English Summary

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Full Bill Text

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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 10707 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 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…
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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. <all>