With many states throughout the nation experiencing medical staffing shortages in response to COVID-19, some have been requesting personnel from other countries. The U.S. Government is not directly engaging foreign governments to assist or augment federal requests for healthcare worker support.
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance and recommendations that FEMA Regions can offer to states on the process for procuring staff from abroad and what to consider when requesting foreign medical assistance. States should keep in mind that medical staffing from other countries should only be considered when all other options have been exhausted domestically.
Before requesting foreign assistance, make sure other staffing mitigation measures have been taken. See this list of recommended steps.
Work with established foreign medical staffing agencies.
- Consult existing information available on foreign medical staffing and recruitment agencies who specialize in enlisting foreign-trained staff.
- Contact the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment (AAIHR). AAIHR member organizations recruit, screen, train, test, credential, sponsor, relocate, resettle, and employ a variety of foreign educated healthcare professionals.
- A comprehensive list of some of the other top international healthcare staffing agencies is linked here.
- HHS advises requesting resources from the countries with the most closely aligned standards to the US.
Determine necessary waivers, regulatory relief, and liability protections. Contacting your state Attorney General may help with this information.
- Bringing foreign-licensed healthcare personnel to provide care in the U.S. is a complex process due to many legal, regulatory, and logistical challenges. Identifying the proper legal authorities to receive foreign-licensed healthcare personnel is critical to ensuring that international responders can properly support a domestic response to a medical or public health emergency.
- Foreign medical personnel may only possess licenses and certifications from foreign jurisdictions, which may not be relevant for state-issued certifications.
- Since states/territories control the licensing of healthcare personnel within their jurisdiction, the state/territory at issue may need to modify or waive its usual licensing requirements to authorize healthcare personnel with a foreign license to practice in the state/territory.
- Additionally, states must consider how any foreign personnel who sustain injuries within the scope of their responsibilities in the response will be covered, and what liability protections may be in place for healthcare professionals providing healthcare services in a U.S. state, in the event that foreign medical personnel face civil legal claims brought against them by those they treat.
Take steps to address entry visa requirements.
- In April 2020, the U.S. Department of State issued an advisory calling for foreign medical professionals with approved visas or certificates of eligibility for exchange visitor programs to make appointments at their nearest embassy to expedite processing, “particularly those working to treat or mitigate the effects of Covid-19.”
- Ask the retained foreign medical staffing agency about how they will handle visas.
Possible Public Assistance Funding
- Straight time, overtime, and other necessary costs for contract medical staff providing treatment to COVID-19 patients may be eligible for PA. Work and associated costs must be consistent with the scope of the contract and may include costs for travel, lodging, and per diem for contract medical staff from outside the local commuting area.
- Any labor costs for medical staff that are included in patient billing and/or otherwise covered by another funding source are not eligible for PA.
For more information, contact: OPPA International Affairs Division: fema-international@fema.dhs.gov
This document contains references and links to non-federal resources and organizations. This information is meant solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be an endorsement of any non-federal entity by FEMA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. government.