HOUSE, SENATE INCLUDE MEDICAL REFORM IN FAA EXTENSION

[bonal]

Not to worry I'm just siting specific cases that relate to me I live in a very rural area and don't have the number of options that perhaps are in the big cities and more wealthy counties I'm not sure why I even brought it up. Over and out. 

[AndyFromCB]

15 minutes ago, bonal said:

Not to worry I'm just siting specific cases that relate to me I live in a very rural area and don't have the number of options that perhaps are in the big cities and more wealthy counties I'm not sure why I even brought it up. Over and out. 

That's a whole another can of worms, I see your point there. It's happening with almost all professions: medical, legal, skilled trades, all are leaving rural areas and heading for the cities. I've been wondering for a while how all that is going to play out in the long run as we all still have to eat and food does not grow in the cities and still requires labor, granted, much less than before. Hence with larger, more mechanized farms, there is just not enough people to support them. Telemedicine? I don't have the answers but it's something I've been pondering upon for a while.

[tony]

George may be excited but I'm disappointed.......this is a long way from drivers license medical.  I'll still be visiting my AME, because no physician will assume the liability of signing me or anyone else off.  So in the end, nothing will change for me.

[flyboy0681]

Just now, tony said:

George may be excited but I'm disappointed.......this is a long way from drivers license medical.  I'll still be visiting my AME, because no physician will assume the liability of signing me or anyone else off.  So in the end, nothing will change for me.

I guess the only advantage will be that we'll be visiting the AME once every four years, instead of two.

[tony]

This year my regular physician put me on Lisinopril.  Not a big deal since hypertension is a CACI.  So when I made the appointment with the AME, I wanted to make sure I had everything in the checklist so he could issue. 

Trying to get a written statement from my regular physician declaring that my BP is stable and within acceptable limits for the FAA,  was very difficult.  My regular physician freaked out when she found out it was for my pilots certificate.   She finally did write the statement but not without me being very persistent.

I don't blame her, Its how our litigious society trained her.

[flyboy0681]

11 minutes ago, tony said:

This year my regular physician put me on Lisinopril.  Not a big deal since hypertension is a CACI.  So when I made the appointment with the AME, I wanted to make sure I had everything in the checklist so he could issue. 

Trying to get a written statement from my regular physician declaring that my BP is stable and within acceptable limits for the FAA,  was very difficult.  My regular physician freaked out when she found out it was for my pilots certificate.   She finally did write the statement but not without me being very persistent.

I don't blame her, Its how our litigious society trained her.

I've been on Enalipril (also an ACE Inhibitor) for 20 years and all of my various doctors through the years had no problem writing down a note on a prescription pad with my blood pressure during each visit and then handing it over to me to give to the AME. I guess it's different for each doc.

[ArtVandelay]

11 minutes ago, tony said: This year my regular physician put me on Lisinopril.  Not a big deal since hypertension is a CACI.  So when I made the appointment with the AME, I wanted to make sure I had everything in the checklist so he could issue. 

Trying to get a written statement from my regular physician declaring that my BP is stable and within acceptable limits for the FAA,  was very difficult.  My regular physician freaked out when she found out it was for my pilots certificate.   She finally did write the statement but not without me being very persistent.

I don't blame her, Its how our litigious society trained her.

I've been on Enalipril (also an ACE Inhibitor) for 20 years and all of my various doctors through the years had no problem writing down a note on a prescription pad with my blood pressure during each visit and then handing it over to me to give to the AME. I guess it's different for each doc.

That's the difference, your doc was just giving data, his doc was asked to give an opinion, if he asked for his BP history it would have probably been a non issue.

[chrisk]

18 hours ago, Cruiser said:

The way I see it the new medical reform will do two major things.

1. Get pilots (afraid of losing their medicals) that should be receiving treatment for medical issues to their doctor for that treatment.

2. Fix current system that requires the pilot to get all kinds of additional tests (from their local medical professional) and send it to the FAA (who never actually perform any medical examination) for approval by eliminating the burdensome oversight of some far away people looking over the paperwork of the doctor that is actually doing the medical treatments. 

I never could understand how sending paperwork and test results from your local doctor to the FAA makes a pilot safe to fly. Now you can deal directly with your local doctor and get the same result.

Exactly!   It's not the $100 every two years to go see an AME that is a problem.  It's the 1000's of dollars and 100's of hours you will spend getting endless tests to keep the medical branch at the FAA happy.  --Yes, I failed an AME exam once because of high blood pressure.   I was late for the appointment, got stuck in traffic, and a major event happened at work just prior to my AME visit.   I think it took 5 trips to my Dr's office to show a history of normal blood pressure.  And I had to have the Dr write a note documenting all of this.  With today's system, God help you if you actually have a real health issue.  And by health issue, I mean something as simple as a case of basal skin cancer, or a polyp found on a screening colonoscopy. 

[steingar]

Argh.  The FAA promises $500 to put ADSB transponders in our airplanes and pilots bitch.  We're on the cusp on obtaining some degree of medical reform for this first time in forever and pilots still bitch.

[bonal]

YEP

[rbridges]

20 hours ago, AndyFromCB said:

You and your pesky facts...Funny thing, with the first kid on the way, I noticed a brand spanking new pediatric clinic just few blocks down from the house. Awesome. Did I mention, first time ever, and I do mean ever, health care rates for the company dropped by about 11% this year and 9% prior year. 

I'm jealous.  My United Healthcare went up around 10%.  

 

btw, does anyone know what percentage of private pilots are instrument rated?  Just wondering since this will exclude them anyway.

[flyboy0681]

Just now, rbridges said:

I'm jealous.  My United Healthcare went up around 10%.  

That's great! Back around 2011 it would have gone up (on average) 22%, so you are ahead of the game.

[rbridges]

Just now, flyboy0681 said:

That's great! Back around 2011 it would have gone up (on average) 22%, so you are ahead of the game.

I'm not upset.  They softened the blow with a letter that said they've done everything they can to cut costs.  Seriously, my 6 days in the hospital last year for my diverticulitis surgery cost 6 figures.  Even my obscene rates seem like a great deal in hindsight.  Ironically, they found first signs of it at my flight physical.  

[N601RX]

We have about 600 employees at work and have been very proactive in keeping our medical cost down. Last year we opened up a low overhead medical clinic and pharmacy at work for our employees and dependents.  It's currently open 3 days week. We still have the same insurance as before but the incinitave to use the clinic is that the visit and meds are both free with no copay.  Scheduling is done with an online app and you are given a time slot to be there.  So for my experience has been that there is no waits and you are back at your desk in less than 25 minutes with your medicine. 

[cnoe]

20 hours ago, AndyFromCB said: You and your pesky facts...Funny thing, with the first kid on the way, I noticed a brand spanking new pediatric clinic just few blocks down from the house. Awesome. Did I mention, first time ever, and I do mean ever, health care rates for the company dropped by about 11% this year and 9% prior year. 

 

btw, does anyone know what percentage of private pilots are instrument rated?  Just wondering since this will exclude them anyway.

The bill was changed to include IFR pilots/flights.

Mark Baker took a lot of heat about that exclusion in the original proposal.

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[1524J]

I work for a major corporation and our medical rates have climbed at a higher rate than M20Doc's 8 cylinder brand "P". Just the facts I'm living with!

On a positive note....when my AME retired due to all the new regulations my medical went from $150 to $40.

[steingar]

Yeah, I know a couple old guys who retired instead of deal.  One is the guy who wrote the rules on SSRIs.  If I do have to get another medical I'm going to him.

I've asked every MD I've come across their take on Obamacare.  Most shrug and go "meh".  I asked the gal who works for my AME.  She's the nicest, sweetest thing and seeing her is the only thing I'll miss about not getting a medical. She started swearing a blue streak. I'd never seen the girl so mad.  I think the difference is my doc and most of the MDs I've discussed this with see patients like me who have good health insurance.  I suspect my AME, being a DO, gets more Medicaid and Medicare patients.  Just a guess.

By the way, my AME is smoking hot.

[rbridges]

14 hours ago, cnoe said:

The bill was changed to include IFR pilots/flights.

Mark Baker took a lot of heat about that exclusion in the original proposal.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

thanks.  I didn't realize IFR pilots were included!

[flyboy0681]

2 hours ago, steingar said:

Yeah, I know a couple old guys who retired instead of deal.  One is the guy who wrote the rules on SSRIs.  If I do have to get another medical I'm going to him.

I've asked every MD I've come across their take on Obamacare.  Most shrug and go "meh".  I asked the gal who works for my AME.  She's the nicest, sweetest thing and seeing her is the only thing I'll miss about not getting a medical. She started swearing a blue streak. I'd never seen the girl so mad.  I think the difference is my doc and most of the MDs I've discussed this with see patients like me who have good health insurance.  I suspect my AME, being a DO, gets more Medicaid and Medicare patients.  Just a guess.

By the way, my AME is smoking hot.

Sounds like the AME for me, especially when she'd ask me to turn to the left and cough.

 

[aviatoreb]

Ok!  Two more years for me.  One more 3rd class done yesterday.  Maybe my last if this new legislation works out nicely?

[steingar]

According to AOPA it just passed the House.  That was always the sticking point, thing's already gotten through the Senate.  I can't see the POTUS vetoing it, nothing that objectionable.  We're closer to this than we've ever been.

[sailon]

On 7/7/2016 at 7:08 PM, Cruiser said:

The way I see it the new medical reform will do two major things.

1. Get pilots (afraid of losing their medicals) that should be receiving treatment for medical issues to their doctor for that treatment.

2. Fix current system that requires the pilot to get all kinds of additional tests (from their local medical professional) and send it to the FAA (who never actually perform any medical examination) for approval by eliminating the burdensome oversight of some far away people looking over the paperwork of the doctor that is actually doing the medical treatments. 

I never could understand how sending paperwork and test results from your local doctor to the FAA makes a pilot safe to fly. Now you can deal directly with your local doctor and get the same result.

Cruiser stated the major benefit.  Unfortunately, I also share Don's liability concern.  Funny thing is that i wrote AOPA on this subject, they said they sampled some doctors and those doctors were not concerned about liability issues.  I think I agree with Don more than I agree with AOPA.  OTOH, if this reform can fix the medical waiver issue, than that is a good thing.  Unfortunately, all congressional action has stalled, so this still may not go thru!  (Surprised?)

[Yooper Rocketman]

2 hours ago, aviatoreb said:

Ok!  Two more years for me.  One more 3rd class done yesterday.  Maybe my last if this new legislation works out nicely?

Erik....Maybe not your last one even with the change.  I am pretty sure there is a restriction for flying in the flight levels where you still need a 3rd class medical.  I know it won't work for me anyway, as I am up there a lot now and will be all the time with the new bird.

Tom

[Marauder]

2 hours ago, aviatoreb said: Ok!  Two more years for me.  One more 3rd class done yesterday.  Maybe my last if this new legislation works out nicely?

Erik....Maybe not your last one even with the change.  I am pretty sure there is a restriction for flying in the flight levels where you still need a 3rd class medical.  I know it won't work for me anyway, as I am up there a lot now and will be all the time with the new bird.

Tom

It is capped at FL180. Sorry Erik!

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[GeorgePerry]

Update - It passed the House.  On to the Senate and then the President.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/july/11/house-passes-medical-reform-in-faa-extension

 

How does this legislation compare with the petition that AOPA and EAA filed jointly in 2012?

The legislation greatly expands the number of pilots and aircraft who will be eligible to fly under third class medical reforms. The table below compares some of the key points.

	Original Petition	New Legislative Reforms
Aircraft Specifications	Up to 4 seats, 180 hp, single-engine, fixed gear	Up to 6 seats, up to 6,000 lbs (no limitations on horsepower, number of engines, or gear type)
Flight Rules	Day VFR Only	Day and Night VFR and IFR
Passengers	Up to 1 passenger	Up to 5 passengers
Aeromedical Training	Pilots must take a free online course every 2 years	Pilots must take a free online course every 2 years
Altitude Restrictions	Up to 10,000 feet or up to 2,000 feet agl	Up to 18,000 feet msl