Doctors Born Outside U.S. Play Big Role in Caring for Underserved Patients

Internal medicine physicians born outside the United States treated 22 million Medicare beneficiaries in 2024, according to researchers. However, immigration policies from the Trump administration could impact this workforce, potentially exacerbating care shortages for underserved patients. Dr. Giacomo Meille of the American Board of Internal Medicine found that patients treated by foreign-born doctors were more likely to be Black, Latino, dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and living in high-poverty zip codes compared to those treated by U.S.-born doctors.

The analysis, conducted by ABIM, revealed that doctors born abroad comprise 47.2% of the internal medicine workforce, with IMGs making up over 50% in geriatrics, sleep medicine, and nephrology. The study highlights that foreign-born physicians disproportionately serve communities with greater difficulties accessing care. Immigration challenges, such as visa fees and travel bans, have made it difficult for foreign-born physicians to renew their citizenship or visas, leading some hospitals to put non-citizen doctors on administrative leave or suspend their appointments.

A federal judge recently struck down the H-1B visa fee, but the Trump administration is appealing the decision. The study suggests that fewer doctors trained under the J-1 visa may lead to further complications in accessing specialized care, particularly in underserved communities.