This plays out in some crazy ways. Medical residents for example. In teaching hospitals across the country, residents are typically paid $50K to $70K per year. The new reg requires they be paid $208K. 3
A new pediatrician in, as an example, Minneapolis had a prevailing wage of $115K last week. Today - $208K. Most primary care positions pay below $208K in most places, particularly rural America and FQHCs - community health centers, rural health clinics and tribal clinics. 4
Some primary care specialties have 1/3 to 1/2 of the doctors in trying on visas. It's not inconsequential and we rely on those doctors to go to America's medically underserved communities. Psychiatry is 50% international & they're on the front lines dealing with addiction BTW. 5
Family medicine is another occupation that will be hit by the new rule in a serious way. 6
The kicker, however, was told to me by @ejtaub, in a conversation this afternoon. There is a very serious federal statute called the Stark Law which generally limits physicians to being paid the "fair market value." 7
Employers are going to have to violate Stark to comply with the DOL regs. An employer can't just say exceed the market rate by 40 or 50% to make Stephen Miller & the DOL happy. They will have to violate Stark in many cases. Is that something a judge is going to be cool with? 8
Maybe @USDOL before you were doing high fives - - you might have sought comments on this legal disaster. End of thread. 9
One more thing. If you're a medical resident or fellow on an H-1B and this affects you, reach out to me please. Same for any post-training doctors who are negatively impacted. We're needing you for the pro bono litigation.
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