And third. my measure limits the number of nonimmigrant nurses who may enter the United States in any given year. The Act provides spaces for only 500 nonimmigrants each year. and it caps the number of nurses who may enter each state. In addition. the Nursing Relief Act provides for serious penalties for abuse. thus ensuring that hospitals will not misuse this new visa category. Moreover. my bill guarantees that hospitals use this program faithfully by narrowly defining the hospitals which are eligible. In order to hire nonimmigrant nurses through this visa program. hospitals must fulfill four strict requirements: First. the hospital must be located in an area which has been defined by the Department of Health and Human Services as having a shortage of health care professionals. Second. the hospital must have at least 190 acute care beds. Third. the hospital must have at least 35 percent of its inpatient days reimbursed by Medicare. Fourth. the hospital must have at least 28 percent of its inpatient days reimbursed by Medicaid. All of these measures ensure that the Nursing Relief Act will serve as a relief to our communities rather than a loophole in the immigration laws. Thank you. Mr.
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visa immigration