EVALUATION PROCESS FOR STATE 30
J-1 VISA WAIVER APPLICATIONS
In addition to compliance with requirements stated in the application materials, KDHE will consider the following program issues and guidelines:
? Kansas participation in the waiver program is focused on assisting local communities to assure that their residents have access to needed health care services
? Application must be made by the legal entity making the contract offer to the physician seeking a J-1 visa waiver, including facilities, institutions, rural health clinics, community health centers, primary care clinics, medical centers, hospitals or private practices located in Kansas
? Application information and assistance will be provided by the KDHE Bureau of Community Health Systems to a recruitment site when there is a confirmed physician candidate
? Primary care requests shall be given priority consideration but 50% of the recommendations are available for specialists during the first three months (Oct – Dec) and additional slots released at intervals throughout the remainder of the year if not needed for primary care requests.
Satisfactory recruitment and retention efforts may be documented by:
- Copies of advertisements
- List of interviewed candidates and reason not selected
- Notation and description of limited candidates in the region
Evaluation of unmet need for health care services within the service area or for unmet need in an identified underserved population:
o Number of practicing primary care physicians (or specialists, include visiting specialists, if applicable)
o For specialists, agreement of local primary care practitioners that the specialty is needed and support for the current waiver application
o Utilization data, e.g. number of procedures most commonly performed by specialty being recruited
o Population to physician ratios, or other measures of underservice for the area
o Medicaid claims data if necessary to monitor access concerns
o Waiting times for referrals from safety net providers
o Past compliance with the program guidelines will be considered
o For medical school teaching positions, evidence of need shall consist of a letter from the Dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine certifying that an essential faculty vacancy exists.
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For health officer positions, evidence of need shall consist of a letter from the Director of the Division of Health in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment certifying that an essential public health vacancy exists.