U.S. Citizens Studying Medicine Abroad

In response to congressional requests, testimony was given on reports concerning federal, state, and private activities pertaining to U.S. citizens who attend foreign medical schools and return to the United States to practice medicine. GAO found that federal, state, and private agencies continue to be concerned about the adequacy and appropriateness of the medical education provided in some foreign medical schools as preparation for practicing medicine in the United States. GAO believed that, while these agencies have taken steps to better control the problems presented by some foreign medical graduates, a more concerted and coordinated approach is needed to effectively deal with the wide variety of issues now being addressed individually by these organizations. Legislation was introduced to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a system of accreditation for foreign medical schools, and no payments under any federal programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, could be made for services provided, ordered, or supervised by graduates of unaccredited foreign medical schools. GAO believes that enacting such legislation would provide the framework needed to help alleviate the problems associated with graduates of unaccredited foreign medical schools.