ALCOAST 104/20 - MAR 2020 EXTENSION OF TERM OF VALIDITY OF PERIODIC MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS

united states coast guard

R 241740 MAR 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06000//
ALCOAST 104/20
COMDTNOTE 6000
SUBJ:  EXTENSION OF TERM OF VALIDITY OF PERIODIC MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS
A. Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST M6000.1 (series)
B. Coast Guard Periodic Health Assessment (PHA), COMDTINST 6150.3 (series)
C. Individual Medical Readiness, DoDI 6025.19
D. Coast Guard Occupational Medicine Manual, COMDTINST M6260.32 (series)
E. Coast Guard Aviation Medicine Manual, COMDTINST M6410.3 (series)
1. REFs (A-E) set the term of validity for required Coast Guard periodic
medical assessments.
2. To reduce travel and to reduce the non-acute health care throughput of
Coast Guard clinics and sickbays ashore during the Coronavirus Pandemic, the
term of validity of certain required periodic medical assessments is hereby
extended for 120 days, effective upon release of this message, including and
limited to Periodic Health Assessments, Annual Dental Exams, Occupational
Medicine Surveillance Exams (OMSEP Exams), Dive Physicals, and Annual Aviation
Physicals.
3. Annual Aviation and Dive Physicals that require renewal of an aeromedical
waiver are NOT automatically extended, including temporary waivers.
4. Flight Surgeons, Aviation Medical Officers, and Designated Aviation Physician
Assistants (APA-Ds) may issue an aeromedical upchit for four months beyond the
birth month by telephone or telehealth consultation if, in their judgment, there
are no significant changes in the aircrew’s health since the last flying duty
medical exam (FDME). If grounded for a self-resolving illness, including COVID-19,
an upchit may be issued if resolution of the condition in question can be adequately
evaluated remotely. However, upchits contingent upon completion or renewal of an
aeromedical waiver or resubmission of a temporary waiver, in addition to a flight
physical, require a waiver evaluation. FS/AMO/APA-D will determine if the waiver
assessment can be completed telephonically or face-to-face. Flight Surgeon Trainees
and APAs who are not yet designated may conduct a telephonic or telehealth upchit
consultation, but must obtain concurrence from their supervising Flight Surgeon
before issuing the upchit.
5. It may not be possible for Coast Guard Business Intelligence to rapidly reflect
these changes, particularly with regard to Aviation and Dive Physicals. 
6. POC: CAPT Shane Steiner, Chief, Operational Medicine, COMDT (CG-1121), 202-475-5256,
Shane.C.Steiner@uscg.mil.
7. RADM D. L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life, COMDT (CG-11), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.