Following advocacy from Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) will stand up a J-1 visa program in fiscal year 2023 to address the rural health care workforce shortage. Kuster has heard firsthand from health care providers and patients in rural parts of New Hampshire about the dire need to address the health care workforce shortage. 

Earlier this year, Kuster led a bipartisan letter urging the NBRC to use its authority to expand the recruitment of doctors to rural New Hampshire communities to address the physician staffing shortage. Specifically, Kuster urged the NBRC to implement a J-1 visa waiver program that would allow non-domestic physicians trained in the U.S. to work in high-need or medically underserved areas within the NBRC’s jurisdiction.

“As I travel throughout New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District, I hear consistently about the serious challenges in attracting and maintaining the health care workforce needed in our state,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “The Northern Border Regional Commission has been a tremendous partner in spurring economic development and supporting communities in rural parts of New Hampshire. Their track record of success makes the NBRC a perfect partner to help address these critical workforce needs. I’m thrilled they will begin the steps to stand up a program to help attract health care workers through the J-1 visa program. I look forward to continuing work with the NBRC to help communities throughout New Hampshire grow and thrive.” 

“The NBRC appreciates the support and encouragement of Congress in its efforts to address the rural health care needs of residents in our region. In the coming year the Commission plans to undertake new initiatives focused on the recruitment of physicians and training of nurses in rural northern New England and New York,” said NBRC Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders. “The vibrancy and well-being of rural communities is directly tied to consistent access to health care services and we look forward to undertaking this work.” 

“Recruiting physicians to the rural areas of our state has long been a challenge,” said Edward J. Merrens, MD, Chief Clinical Officer at Dartmouth Health. “We appreciate Representative Kuster’s work with the Northern Border Regional Commission to implement this important program.”

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Kuster has been a champion of the NBRC which is authorized through the once every five-year farm bill. In 2018, Kuster led efforts to dramatically increase funding for the NBRC and expanded to include Cheshire and Belknap counties.

###