In response to the news that the Trump administration has hiked the price of new H-1B visas from $2,000 – $5,000 to a whopping $100,000. MedCity News Editor in Chief Arundhati Parmar talked about the merits and challenges of the program in general and specifically for healthcare with Debunked Podcast co-host Samir Batra, managing partner of Health Innovation Pitch.
“There are some legit concerns that employers have abused this system, especially with India, my country of birth, and have benefited tremendously,” Arundhati said. “I agree with the criticism that this program has been abused. … On the flip side, we don’t have enough people with math and science skills.”
Initially the details of the visa program changes were hazy, causing mass confusion as companies urged employees to cut short their travel plans and return to the U.S. Technology companies have used the H-1B visa to address a shortage of computer science engineers within the U.S. Although the healthcare industry has relied on the program for decades to bolster nurse and physician staffing, bringing professionals from Philippines and India, the numbers of H-1B visas issued in healthcare and medicine represent a small fraction of the 141,205 total new H-1B visas issued in fiscal year 2024, according to data from the American Immigration Council.
Another topic raised in the latest edition of Debunked was Bitcoin treasury company Strive’s acquisition of device company Semlar Scientific. Semlar developed a test for peripheral artery disease and other chronic conditions. The combined company holds 10,900 BTC, making it the 12th largest public bitcoin holder, according to Cointelegraph. Samir shared insights on the implications for future M&A deals and the role bitcoin could play in these transactions. He also shared concerns that bitcoin risked inflating a company’s value based on their digital assets.
Misinformation around one cause of autism, disseminated by the Trump administration, was widely criticized last month. President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. named the active ingredient in Tylenol, acetaminophen, as a cause of autism and urged pregnant women not to take the medication, despite the lack of conclusive evidence for the claims. Physicians often recommend pregnant women take Tylenol for pain or a high fever as a safer alternative to aspirin. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz contradicted his boss and downplayed concerns around the drug.
To listen to the full podcast, check out the video here: