Kemp weighs bill to bring more international doctors to rural Georgia

A bill is now on Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk that could increase the number of medical professionals in Georgia, specifically in rural counties.

Senate Bill 427 passed with bipartisan support and would help bring doctors from outside the country to work in rural counties, hospitals and medical schools.

Natalie Crawford is the executive director of Georgia First, a nonprofit that advocates for healthcare access. She told GPB News that the bill allows internationally trained physicians to acquire a limited provisional license to be able to practice medicine under supervision.

“We feel like that’s an important step in attracting more talent, more medical professionals to Georgia, especially in rural areas where oftentimes we don’t have adequate access to care for patients,” she said.

Crawford highlighted that around 500,000 Georgians are set to lose their healthcare coverage over the next 10 years due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and her organization is advocating for expanding Medicaid in Georgia.

“We think the best next step for Georgia is to expand Medicaid, and that would unlock a new option for hundreds of thousands of Georgians, getting us extra federal funding to help cover them,” Crawford said. “Expanding Medicaid in Georgia would help to keep more people in the workforce, boost our economy, and protect our rural hospitals.”

Kemp has until May 12 to sign or veto the legislation before it automatically becomes a law.