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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                  JUNE 19, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 26

                           AAPI Applauds Court Ruling

               Blocking $100,000 H1B Physician

                                              Visa Requirement

            OUR BUREAU
                                                                                tion and fostering trust between phy-  AAPI’s Continued Advocacy
            New York, NY                                                        sicians and patients.                AAPI reaffirmed its commitment
                                                                                    Their multilingual skills and   to  advocating  for  fair, transparent,
                  he  American  Association  of                                 cultural awareness enhance patient  and patient-centered immigration
                  Physicians of Indian Origin
            T(AAPI) has welcomed the re-                                        engagement and satisfaction, while   policies. The organization will con-
                                                                                                                  tinue working with federal agencies,
                                                                                studies consistently show that IMGs
            cent court decision blocking the pro-                               deliver care comparable in quality to   medical organizations, and commu-
            posed $100,000 requirement for H1B                                  U.S.-trained physicians.          nity partners to ensure a strong and
            physician visa applications, calling
                                                                                   “IMG physicians bring not only  sustainable physician workforce.
            the ruling a critical victory for pa-                               medical expertise but also empathy,   “Our mission is clear—support
            tient care and the stability of the U.S.                            cultural understanding, and a global   physicians and protect patients,” Dr.
            healthcare system.                                                  perspective,” Dr. Chakrabarty point- Medavaram  stated. “We will contin-
                In  an  official  statement,  AAPI
            President Dr. Amit Chakrabarty em-                                  ed out. “They are essential to deliver-  ue to advocate for policies that ensure
                                                                                                                  no community is left without care.”
                                                                                ing equitable, patient-centered care
            phasized the importance of the deci- and the physicians who serve them.”  in a diverse nation.”          “Together, we move forward with
            sion for both physicians and patients
            across the country.                 The Vital Role of International     Broader Contributions and     renewed purpose and unity,” Dr.
                                                                                                                  Chakrabarty added. “By supporting
                                                     Medical Graduates
               “This ruling restores fairness and                                      Ongoing Challenges
            stability to a system that thousands   IMGs—physicians trained out-     In addition to clinical care, IMGs   physicians, we safeguard the health of
            of international physicians  depend   side the United States and Canada—  contribute  to  the  healthcare  system   our nation.”
                                              are a cornerstone of the American
            upon,” said Dr. Chakrabarty. “This is                               through research, teaching, and com-         Conclusion
            not a political victory—it is a health-  healthcare system.  Their contribu-  munity service. Many serve in public   The court’s decision to block the
                                              tions are substantial and measurable:
            care victory. It ensures that patients                              hospitals,  federally  qualified  health   proposed  $100,000  H1B  visa  require-
            are not placed at risk due to policy   •  IMGs make up approximately 25%   centers, and remote regions, helping  ment represents a crucial step in pre-
                                                of the U.S. physician workforce,
            barriers unrelated to clinical need.”                               address social determinants of health.  serving healthcare access and work-
                                                representing one in four practicing
                                                                                    However, AAPI leaders noted
                                                                                                                  force stability. By removing a significant
              Protecting Care in Underserved    doctors.                        that IMGs continue to face challeng- barrier for International Medical Grad-
                      Communities            •  They provide care to nearly 1 in ev-
                AAPI leaders stressed that the   ery 6 patients nationwide.     es, including complex visa processes,  uates, the ruling helps ensure continui-
            proposed   financial   requirement  •  About  40%  of  physicians  in  rural   professional uncertainty, and work- ty of care for millions of patients—par-
            would have disproportionately im-   and underserved areas are IMGs.  place inequities.                ticularly in underserved communities.
                                                                                   “Policies that create barriers for
                                                                                                                     AAPI  leaders emphasized  that
            pacted rural hospitals, safety-net in- •  More  than  half  of  internal  medi-  physicians ultimately become bar-  continued advocacy, collaboration,
            stitutions,  and  underserved  health-  cine trainees include IMGs, help-  riers  for  patients,”  Dr.  Chakrabarty  and evidence-based policy will re-
            care settings, where International   ing sustain the physician pipeline.
            Medical  Graduates (IMGs)  play an    These physicians are particularly   emphasized.  “We  must  ensure  that  main essential in strengthening the
                                                                                healthcare  policies  reflect  the  reali- healthcare system and meeting the
            essential role.                   concentrated in high-need specialties   ties of patient needs.”     nation’s growing needs.
                Such a policy, they noted, could   such as internal medicine, geriatrics,
            have led to hospitals withdrawing  nephrology, endocrinology, and in-
            employment offers, leaving critical   fectious disease, where workforce
            vacancies  unfilled,  and  significantly   shortages are most acute.
            reducing access to care in already   “International medical graduates
            vulnerable regions.               are not just contributors—they are
               “Many  hospitals  would  have   essential to the functioning of our
            struggled to absorb such a financial   healthcare system,” Dr. Chakrabarty
            burden,” Dr. Chakrabarty explained.  stated. “They serve where the need
            “The consequences would have been   is greatest and bring a deep commit-
            immediate—fewer physicians, lon- ment to patient care.”
            ger wait times, and reduced access
            to care for communities that already    Advancing Equity and
            face healthcare disparities.”              Quality of Care
               “This decision is vital for pro-   AAPI highlighted the important
            tecting access to care in medical- role IMGs play in advancing health
            ly underserved communities,” Dr.  equity and culturally competent care.
            Chakrabarty said. “Healthcare pol- Many serve diverse and minority
            icies must always prioritize patients   populations, improving communica-

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