HHS Waivers Provide Cost-Saving Alternative to Locum Tenens Physicians

Can Your Healthcare Institution Afford a J-1 Waiver Program?

The Short Answer? You Could Save Money and Build Stability.

If your hospital or healthcare clinic relies on Locum Tenens staffing, you can realize significant savings in a short amount of time by hiring foreign physicians on a J-1 waiver, with the added benefit of the continuity of service provided by a year-round physician. Recent changes to federal guidelines have opened up Health and Human Services (HHS) waivers to any facility with a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score of at least 7 – you can find out if your facility qualifies here.

Cost of Locum Tenens Hospitalist

The average salary of a Locum Tenens hospitalist in Northern New England is $258,200, and that does not include other costs associated with locum tenens hiring, including:

  • Fee for Locum Tenens Recruiter – As much as 40% of hospitalist salary.
  • Permanent Recruitment Fee – $10,000-$40,000.
  • Airfare, hotel or temporary housing, rental car or public transportation services, malpractice insurance – varies according to location, up to $50,000 a year.

Locum Tenens assignments are short-term by nature, lasting from 2 months to a year. Not only do these placements create additional work for your HR team, they are an expensive solution to chronic staffing shortages.

Cost of J-1 Waiver Hospitalist

The average starting salary for a hospitalist in Northern New England is $158,667. Sponsoring a foreign physician typically starts at around $2,000 a year for six years.

Opting to sponsor a U.S. trained foreign physician on a J-1 waiver can proactively address healthcare shortages and add long-term stability to your workforce. We work with healthcare institutions across the United States to hire foreign physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. We offer complimentary consultations so we can better understand your needs and offer strategies with your specific goals in mind.