Maryland health care employers and J-1 physicians who commit to serve the underserved in Maryland and who missed the Dec. 1 J-1 Conrad 30 waiver application deadline are in luck: The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has reopened its application period! Physicians who completed graduate medical education in J-1 status now have additional time to secure a clinical service waiver for the two-year home residence requirement to provide medical services in Maryland.

MDH received 24 Conrad waiver applications prior to the original closing of the application period. But, in an effort to increase access to medical care in Maryland, MDH reopened its application cycle and is accepting new applications on a rolling basis. The application period will remain open until MDH has received sufficient applications to meet its limit of 30 or Feb. 28, whichever comes first.

Given the short turnaround time, employers and foreign physicians who are interested in pursuing this option should immediately take steps to assess eligibility and prepare and submit a waiver application as soon as possible.

Below are links to more information about select J waiver programs:

The Maryland Conrad 30 Waiver Program

The HHS Clinical Service Program

Opinions and conclusions in this post are solely those of the author unless otherwise indicated. The information contained in this blog is general in nature and is not offered and cannot be considered as legal advice for any particular situation. The author has provided the links referenced above for information purposes only and by doing so, does not adopt or incorporate the contents. Any federal tax advice provided in this communication is not intended or written by the author to be used, and cannot be used by the recipient, for the purpose of avoiding penalties which may be imposed on the recipient by the IRS. Please contact the author if you would like to receive written advice in a format which complies with IRS rules and may be relied upon to avoid penalties.

[View source.]