Unfulfilled promise

Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 | 2:06 a.m.

A Las Vegas doctor has been recommended for approval to expand his participation in a federal immigration program that provides health care for medically underserved patients — despite allegations by several foreign doctors that he exploited their services.

The state’s Primary Care Advisory Council on Tuesday signed off on an application submitted by Dr. Rachakonda Prabhu to hire another foreign doctor.

Its recommendation was made even though the State Health Division is investigating allegations against Prabhu that have been reported by the Las Vegas Sun’s Marshall Allen. Prabhu has denied the allegations.

The federal program, commonly known as “J-1” and overseen by the state, allows foreign doctors to pursue U.S. citizenship if they work 40 hours a week in underserved areas for at least three years. Foreign doctors contract with local employers, often doctors, who become their bosses and sponsor their visas.

Allegations by some foreign doctors employed by Prabhu included that he worked them to exhaustion, put unfair language in their contracts and assigned them to hospitals — where they could earn more money for him — at the expense of their 40-hour public service requirements.

The State Health Division responded with strong reforms but it has not aggressively investigated the allegations. One reform was the creation of the public-private advisory council, which last month made Prabhu write a more fair contract for the J-1 doctor he wants to hire.

But the council, lacking any official corroboration of what the doctors told the Sun, recommended the hiring.

In January, Lynn O’Mara, a health division manager, was assigned oversight of the J-1 program. She promised then that state officials would meet with the foreign doctors within six months.

Addressing fears of employer retribution cited by the foreign doctors, she said the meetings would be state-initiated and would be confidential and private. Citing budget restraints, O’Mara said this week the interviews have not taken place.

The health division should not act on the council’s recommendation until the foreign doctors have been formally interviewed as promised.