Marketplace Rural hospitals were already short-staffed. Then came Trump's H-1B visa fee
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Nov 18, 2025 
Nova Safo, a Marketplace reporter focusing on immigration and workforce issues, dives into the impact of the new $100,000 H-1B visa fee on rural health care staffing. This fee exacerbates existing shortages in essential health workers, halting critical hires in struggling hospitals. The conversation highlights how rural areas face intensified pressure, risking the availability of medical care. Additionally, insights on a Bitcoin downturn, Panera's sales slump, and the EV market's resilience enrich the discussion.
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Visa Fee Strains Rural Health Access
- President Trump's $100,000 H-1B fee dramatically disrupts a key pipeline for healthcare workers in rural and low-income areas.
- Rural hospitals rely on H-1B hires far more than urban systems, so the fee worsens staffing and access to care.
Frederick Health's Lost Nursing Cohort
- Frederick Health Hospital recruited overseas to fill chronic staffing shortages and lined up 29 nurses.
- Those hires paused when the $100,000 H-1B fee was imposed, forcing the hospital to rely on overtime.
Recruiters Call Fee A Non-Starter
- Health staffing firms brought hundreds of nurses annually via H-1B but now call the fee a 'non-starter.'
- Many employers froze H-1B recruiting and are waiting on lawsuits or exemptions.