HHS AND APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION J-1 WAIVERS FOR PHYSICIANS
HHS WAIVERS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides for the sponsorship of J-1 waivers for physicians who have been offered primary care positions in medically under served regions throughout the United States, or those physicians who have engaged in internationally significant medical research.
For HHS Clinical waivers, only primary care physicians (or hospitalists) qualify for consideration.
ARC WAIVERS
Under certain circumstances, the Appalachian Regional Commission will request a waiver of immigration requirements for foreign-trained physicians doing residency work in the United States under a J-1 visa. Physicians receiving these waivers must practice for at least three years in rural Appalachian areas that suffer critical health manpower shortages.
Kindly contact us with further questions concerning HHS or ARC waivers and your possibility eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions about the HHS And ARC Waivers
1. I heard that HHS issued more stringent requirements for J1 waivers for the 2004 Fiscal Year. What are those restrictions?
On December 19, 2003, new rules were set forth for HHS waivers for the 2004 Fiscal Year. HHS will no longer agree to recommend waivers for physicians with job offers in all HPSA/MUA areas. Instead, these new rules require that the HPSA/MUA area have a score of 14 or above, and that the sponsoring facility be a Federally designated health center, a rural health clinic, or a Native American/Alaskan native medical facility. These new rules effectively reduce by over 90% the number of physicians who would qualify for the HHS waiver, rendering the program practically useless for most.
2. How do I proceed an HHS waiver?
Contact us by email or phone and we will gladly assist you with the preparation and filing of the necessary waiver application.
3. How do I gain more information about the ARC waiver?
Requests for waivers under the ARC J-1 Visa Program must be sponsored by a state within the Appalachian Region. All inquiries should be made to the state contacts listed below.
Alabama
Charles Lail
Rural Health Programs Manager
Office of Rural Health
RSA Tower, Suite 840
P.O. Box 303017
Montgomery, AL 36130-3017
Phone: (334) 206-5396
Fax: (334)206-5434
E-mail: clail@adph.state.al.us
Georgia
Monique Rigard
Department of Community Health
Office of Rural Health Services
2 Peachtree Street, 6th Floor 6.120
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 657-6620
E-mail: Mrigard@dma.state.ga.us
Kentucky
Danise Newton
Health Program Administrator
Kentucky Department for Public Health
Division of Adult and Child Health, HS2W-A
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: (502) 564-8966
Fax: (502) 564-6533
E-mail: danise.newton@mail.state.ky.us
Maryland
Antionette Coward
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Office of Primary Care Services
201 West Preston Street, Room 429
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Phone: (410) 767-5602
E-mail: Cowarda@dhmh.state.md.us
Mississippi
Linda Young
Health Program Specialist Sr.
Alvin Harrion
MARC Recruiter for J-1 Provider
Mississippi State Department of Health
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, Mississippi 39215-1700
Phone: (601) 576-7216
Fax: (601) 576-7230
New York
Steve Swanson
Associate Health Planner
Bureau of Health Resources Development
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower, Room 1084
Albany, NY 12237
Phone: (518) 473-7019
Fax: 518-474-0572
E-mail: Sas03@health.state.ny.us
North Carolina
Tom Tucker
Physician Placement Services
311 Ashe Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: (919) 733-2040
Fax: (919) 733-8300
Ohio
Phil Styer
Primary Care and Rural Health Program
Ohio Department of Health
P.O. Box 118
Columbus, Ohio 43266-0118
Phone: (614) 644-8063
Fax: (614) 644-9850
E-mail: Pstyer@qw.odh.state.oh.us
Pennsylvania
Constance B. Hanna
Public Health Program Administrator
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Bureau of Health Planning
P.O. Box 90
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0090
Phone: (717) 772-5298
Fax: (717) 705-6525
E-mail: Channa@state.pa.us
South Carolina
Mark Jordan (WRITTEN INQUIRIES ONLY)
Director
Office of Primary Care
Department of Health and Environmental Control
Box 101106
Columbia, SC 29211-0106
Tennessee
Michael Gregory
Program Coordinator
Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Health Access
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
425 5th Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37247
Phone: (615) 741-4007
Fax: (615) 741-1063
E-mail: mgregory@mail.state.tn.us
Virginia
Brunilda A. Caro-Justin
Program Coordinator
Center for Primary Care Resource Development
Virginia Department of Health
1500 East Main Street, Suite 227
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 786-4891
Fax: (804) 371-0116
E-mail: bcaro-justin@vdh.state.va.us
West Virginia
Jim Critini
J-1 Visa Waiver Program
Bureau for Public Health
Office of Community and Rural Health Services
Division of Recruitment
350 Capitol Street, Room 515
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Phone: (304) 558-4382
Fax: (304) 558-1437
Please contact our law firm at (248) 539-5300 to discuss the particulars of applying for an ARC waiver.
4. How can your firm help me with the HHS and ARC waiver processes?
The attorneys at our firm have special expertise in handling all types of waiver applications, and will be able to provide you with specialized assistance with respect to both HHS and ARC waiver applications.