Hi Folks-

Just completed my "FAA Basic Med" requirements which included a physical exam by my personal doctor, the completion of a course and passing the test. I am good for 48 months, just need to re-take the on-line course at 24 months.

Although, I recognize this does not fit well for everyone's application, it fits my mission envelope nicely right now. I no longer need a class II medical and don't plan in flying to Canada anytime soon.

My experience with this process is positive and I appreciate the efforts of all that caused this program to become law.

What say you...

My Basic Med experience went especially smooth as a hangar neighbor is a state-licensed physician and I traded him a Flight Review for his services. I like the 4-year stretch that BM allows. However, a year into it finds me Jonesing for a Canada/Alaska trip. So, I will likely get another FAA Third Class Medical to comply with Canada requirements.

Went there two years ago, May 1.

Great program. If you’re not an AOPA member, you should be....they had a lot to do with this getting done

MTV

Its not as good as it could have been but it's a benefit to many people and I'm glad we have it

I did it 2 years ago on May 1st, one of two the doctor did that day before the corporation he worked for said not to do any more. It took me a couple of weeks to find a doctor at that time that was willing to do the Basic Med as the medical corporation that my primary care doctor works for is not willing to let their doctors participate. I was talking to the assistant airport manager in Cadillac (MI) where I rent a hangar, about it just this week and he said that he has spent a few months asking around as he needs a medical and wants to go Basic Med but is yet to find a doctor who is both willing and allowed by their employer to do them. It would be a great system if AOPA was better at training doctors and medical corporations on the risks and benefits to them. As it stands now here in west MIchigan Basic Med is short lived and functionally useless. I hope the weight limit on sport pilots goes up or it is back to a third class for me. If any one in west Michigan knows of a doctor who is doing Basic Med at this time please PM me and I will pass it on to the assistant airport manage and keep for myself when I need it in two years.

Tim

I agree completely. BasicMed is an enormous improvement. Instead of giving us an incentive to avoid going to the doctor, it gives encourages us to have an ongoing relationship with one.

But getting someone to do it is becoming a real problem. I’m an anesthesiologist. I asked my malpractice insurance carrier if I could get coverage for BasicMed exams. They replied that they’d cover me for up to 100 exams per year, but if I had a claim they’d refuse to renew my coverage. What kind of crap is that?

I called AOPA and told their medical people about it, suggesting they could get involved and put together an information packet for insurance companies and other medico-legal worriers. They deflected, giving me suggestions about how I could discuss it with my insurance carrier. Well, I’m not about to make waves with the only company writing malpractice insurance in Indiana. I don’t even want them to remember my name.

If it weren’t for the insurance foolishness, I’d say come on down to Indiana and I’ll do it in a borrowed office on some Saturday. As it is, I’m out of the BasicMed business.

I am also an anesthesiologist and do basic med exams. I do not charge for the service but do it with people I know. My feeling is that if I do not charge for my service then a physician patient relationship does not exist and therefore does not fall under medical liability. Favors eventually get returned.

One of the Alaska guys said he got one from a DC which is OK but a PA or ANP can’t do it. Is this true?

gbflyer wrote:One of the Alaska guys said he got one from a DC which is OK but a PA or ANP can’t do it. Is this true?

That’s correct, the exam must be done by a Doctor, MD or DO. No PAs, Nurse Practitioners, and no Chiropracters.

MTV

DC is a chiropractor. Maybe he said DO. I get all those confused.

Here’s something about it:

http://news.meyerdc.com/chiropractors/d ... te-pilots/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chiroe ... icals/amp/

I live in a rural area. My primary care is with VA and since the VA clinic is so far a way thee is a private doctor locally that does the VA care here. Last year I asked him if he would sign the basic med. He said no problem. So at my exam prior to my next medical I am going basic med.

I am an Emergency Room physician and have done a couple of basic medical exams for people I know. I think the liability risk is extremely low. With that said - I agree with the comments mentioned above about having medical malpractice carriers making it difficult to provide this service on a widespread basis. I also think the exclusion of flying into Canada makes a lot people up here in the Northwest steer toward a class III medical. I have heard some rumors that Canada may provide a similar type of basic medical in the future and honor those from United States.

Dog is my Copilot wrote:….. I have heard some rumors that Canada may provide a similar type of basic medical in the future and honor those from United States.

I remember from 2 years ago that AOPA said they would be working on Canada to accept BasicMed for transient US pilots.
Never heard much follow-on about that.
FWIW I'm coming up on 2 years of BM in a couple months,
need to take the online course again then I'm good til 2021.
BTW I seem to recall that at the end of the 4 years,
BM is good until the date of your exam--
unlike a standard medical certificate which is good til the end of that month.
So all you BM'ers, keep that in mind in the future.

I sent my primary care physician (an internist) thelink to Basic Med stuff AOPA provides. He looked it over and said no problem. I asked him if his liability insurance approved. He said he didn’t know, but he figured the risk is so low he’s not worried.

But, mine was done by a friend who is an AME. If you can’t get a primary care doc to do it, call an AME, and see if they will. The advantage: they know the risk is low.

Pay them the same as a third class, and they shouldn’t care.

The FAA does not DEFEND an AME who’s being sued in an aviation case. They provide expert witness. So an AME is still subject to suit, and the FAA isn’t going to pay defense, according to my AME friend.

Frankly, I think it’s incumbent on us as patients to educate the docs about this stuff. But if they say no, move on.

I’ve talked to a dozen guys here who’ve gone Basic Med and none hs been told know by their physicians.

My AME friend asked his Regional Flight Surgeon how many lawsuits have been filed against AMEs in his region. The answer was none, as in never.

High risk?

MTV

mtv wrote:
Pay them the same as a third class, and they shouldn’t care.


MTV

Check with your insurance company, you may be entitled to one physical a year as part of your coverage. I was so my Basic Med didn't cost me anything.

I think the biggest concern most physicians completing the basic medical is liability. I have heard the same thing that MTV's physician reported about no lawsuits against AMEs in the past. I think the easiest way is to have a good relationship with your primary care provider. The good news is that a basic medical evaluation may actually be better than a Class III exam which is nothing more than a vision test, urine dip for diabetes (they don't check for drugs), and blood pressure check. Physical exam findings are unlikely to pick up anything new. But as we age getting checked for high cholesterol, diabetes, prostate CA, (Breast and cervical Cancer for the ladies), and being referred for screening colonoscopies will likely prevent a lot of misery and disease in the future.

mtv wrote:

Pay them the same as a third class, and they shouldn’t care.


MTV



Check with your insurance company, you may be entitled to one physical a year as part of your coverage. I was so my Basic Med didn't cost me anything.

Yep- My Basic Med evaluation was free within the context of my insurance "wellness exam".

As others have said, I also educated my primary care doctor on what the whole BM was about. He did not have any issue w/ performing the exam and signing the documents I provided.

Just to clarify for the group, my primary care physician nor most that I have ask do not personally have a problem with doing it, the problem is with the corporations they are employed by prohibiting them from doing the Basic Med physicals. They just do not understand the limited liability the corporation is exposed to and will not make an attempt with their liability insurance carrier. To be honest I would be willing to pay a premium for Basic Med over a third class just to remove someone at a desk in Oklahoma City from the equation.

Tim

I just used the AME I have been using for years.