Texas changes law to attract foreign
The Texas Tribune••nation
Key Points:
- Texas has enacted House Bill 2038 (the DOCTOR Act), allowing foreign-trained physicians who completed residencies abroad to obtain provisional medical licenses without repeating U.S. residencies, aiming to address the state's projected shortage of 10,000 doctors by 2032.
- Under the new law, eligible doctors must work under supervision in underserved areas for two years before qualifying for a full Texas medical license, helping to staff rural communities facing physician shortages.
- The law targets foreign-trained doctors already residing in the U.S. but unable to practice due to residency requirements, potentially easing competition for U.S. residency slots and accelerating their entry into Texas healthcare.
- Challenges remain, including concerns about vetting the quality of foreign medical education and the impact of
