ACN 129/19 - NOV 2019 PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT (PHA) UPDATE

united states coast guard

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                                 CANCEL DATE  31 OCT 2020


R 011514 NOV 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06150//
ACN 129/19
SUBJ:  PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT (PHA) UPDATE
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 180834 DEC 18/ALCOAST 418/18
B. Coast Guard Periodic Health Assessment (PHA), COMDTINST 6150.3 (series)
1. In response to medical readiness challenges cited by operational commanders, and in
alignment with recommendations made by the Access to Health Care Task Force, effective
01 Nov 2019, qualified Coast Guard (CG) Independent Duty Health Services Technicians (IDHS)
are authorized to perform PHAs for CG personnel. The intent of this change is to improve
medical readiness, provide CG personnel flexibility in how and when they obtain PHAs,
and to free up CG Medical Officers (MOs) for more clinical appointments. Qualifed IDHSs are
those who have completed required PHA training and who have a Designated Medical
Officer Advisor (DMOA).
2. Additionally, CG IDHS Technicians will also be authorized to travel to units using
TRICARE Prime Remote (TPR) and to Selected Reserve (SELRES) units to conduct group PHA
events. During such events, additional Individual Medical Readiness (IMR) services will
also be offered as feasable.
3. The Reserve Health Readiness Program (RHRP) remains an option for both in-clinic
and group event PHA and IMR completion. An RHRP group event can be considered for 30 or
more PHAs, or fewer where there is not an RHRP provider within 50 miles of the unit.   
4. During calendar year 2020, HSWL SC will develop procedures to conduct low-risk
(as determined by criteria under development) PHAs via telephone or other approved
telehealth modality.
5. CG members remain free to request an in-person PHA with a medical officer (MO). 
6. During years in which CG members turn 40, 45, or 50 years of age and every year
after 50, PHAs must be conducted in-person with an MO. This is also required for high-risk
medical conditions and when there is a "fitness for duty" concern. 
7. PHA due date and periodicity, starting 01 Jan 2020:
    a. No PHAs are required during Initial Entry Training (IET), such as Basic Training,
CG Academy, Officer Candidate School, Direct Commission Officer/Petty Officer Training, etc.
    b. The first PHA is due by the end of the first birth birth month following completion
of IET. 
    c. Thereafter, the next PHA is due by the end of the following year's birth month, unless
accomplished earlier. If a PHA is accomplished in a month before the birth month, that becomes
the new PHA due month for subsequent years.
    d. There is no minimum amount of time that must pass between PHAs. This, combined with
item 7.c above, is to allow TPR and SELRES units to synchronize their members’ PHA due dates
during annual PHA Group Events. This constitutes an update to the policy promulgated in
REF (A). 
    e. A PHA must be accomplished every 12 months (not to exceed 12 months).
8. CG members are required to have only one PHA during calendar year 2019; there is no
requirement to have more than one.
9. Coast Guard Business Intelligence (CGBI) will be updated in spring 2020 to reflect the
changes above.
10. The CGBI update will include the initiation of monthly automated readiness reminders
emailed to all CG military personnel.
11. These changes will be implemented into the next revision of REF (B), which will be released
within the next year.
12. POC: CAPT Shane C. Steiner (Chief, Operational Medicine, COMDT (CG-1121)), 202-475-5256,
E-mail: Shane.C.Steiner@uscg.mil.
13. Released by RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life.
14. Internet release is authorized.