House Health Committee advances J‑1 visa waiver grant program for primary care hires

The House Health Committee voted to report House Bill 425 as amended, a bill that would create a J‑1 visa waiver primary care physician grant program in the Department of Health to support employers that hire eligible physicians.

The measure, sponsored by Representative Marcel and co‑sponsored by Representative Venkat, aims to ease physician shortages in rural and medically underserved areas by allowing eligible employers to receive up to $100,000 per physician per year for a period of three years. Under the bill, the department may award grants in increments of $10,000 not to exceed $100,000 each year and would be required to publish annual reports by Dec. 31.

The bill’s author, Representative Marcel, described the bill’s…