Even before the pandemic, the United States was facing critical shortages of healthcare practitioners. A recent study by the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the country could experience a shortage of 54,100 to 139,000 physicians by 2033. Another study found that, in 2018, there was an average of 27 open healthcare practitioner jobs in the U.S. for every one available and unemployed healthcare practitioner.

Visa restrictions, burdensome licensing laws, and immigration backlogs, both on those seeking to come to the U.S., as well as for those who are already here, are exacerbating the issue. H1-B visa holder and Indiana resident Dr. Vasu Voleti recently wrote about her experience. Despite the tremendous need amid the pandemic, she still was not allowed to treat patients anywhere other than at the hospital where she was employed.