National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners: What s it all About?

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2 National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners: What s it all About? Presented to the American Bus Assocaition. June 16, 2014 Elaine M. Papp RN MSN COHN-S FAAOHN Division Chief Medical Programs FMCSA

3 Mother s Day Bus Crash May 9, 1999 Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration 3

4 22 killed (including driver) What Happened? Driver lost consciousness; ran into embankment Driver had valid medical card, despite Multiple medical conditions Treated in 20 times in 21 months Ten required hospitalization for life-threatening heart and kidney disease Ten hours before the May 9 th trip, driver was treated in the ER But drove to his death Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration 4

5 Overview of Today s Presentation What is the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners? What s it all about? Examiner network coverage Is there a shortage of Medical Examiners? Due diligence and auditing the certified examiner network What s coming Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration 5

6 What is the National Registry Program? A new regulation Requires all Medical Examiners be: Trained, tested and certified Ensures Medical Examiners know FMCSA regulations and drivers role Drivers are properly examined to safely operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce

7 Why do we need a National Registry? Make highways safer Save lives reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses National Transportation Safety Board recommended Congressionally mandated

8 Medical Examiners- New regulation National Registry Certified Medical Examiner Must Complete National Registry Program training Successfully pass the Medical Examiner test Be licensed to practice Required by FMCSA Provide medical exams Issue Medical Certifications Inclusion on the National Registry

9 Who does the National Registry Impact? Medical Examiners Medical professionals who perform U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examinations for CMV drivers. Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Drivers Individuals who drive trucks, buses, or other commercial vehicles for the purpose of interstate commerce. Motor Carriers Companies that provide interstate commercial transportation services to individuals or other business.

10 What do Carriers have to do? Valid Medical Certificate Issued by Certified Medical Examiners on the National Registry May 21, 2014 Operate Interstate Commerce CMV Drivers Employers of CMV Drivers Motor Carriers

11 Medical Certificate Requirements Interstate truck and bus drivers, and vehicles with A gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 4,537 kg (10,001 lb) or more; Designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; Designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers, or; Used in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous, in compliance with the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act

12 What is a medical certificate? Interstate CMV Drivers Requirement Physical Examination Medical fitness for Duty Issued by Certified Medical Examiners medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, doctors of chiropractic, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and others as defined by state guidance Renew at least every 2 years

13 Monitoring and Auditing FMCSA is required to Monitor and Audit Medical Examiners (ME) To ensure they are conducting exams appropriately FMCSA will randomly select MEs and look at the Medical Examination Report forms of drivers Check drivers who see more than one ME If One ME fails driver And the next one passes driver FMCSA will investigate why Will pull Medical Examination Report forms And possibly engage in enforcement

14 Do we have enough MEs Yes People don t take tests until the last minute!! As of Monday, June 16, 2014 there were 51,780 people registered to become certified If signed up, likely to take the test and get on the Registry Of those, 30,228 passed the test 29,053 are on the National Registry now 1,175 to be added soon Trends each week now are : or more are taking and passing and being listed are registering to become MEs

15 FMCSA s Estimate In the rulemaking FMCSA estimated that we needed: 40,000 MEs To meet the need of 4 Million drivers Not all drivers will need exams on May 21, 2014 Drivers need to get an exam from an ME on the list at the time their current medical certificate expires We expected to need 20,000 MEs by May 21 but they need to be geographically dispersed

16 Carriers Role Obtain driver s medical certificate (DOT card) Check for Medical Examiner s National Registry number on the card Verify the number by checking the National Registry Website Make note in the driver s file that you checked and verified that the ME is on the National Register and date and sign your note

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23 What s Coming? FMCSA has added a case by case exemption for people with seizure disorders and drivers who do not meet the hearing qualification. We are in the process of writing a new regulation for Diabetes and it will be published as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for public comment at the end of this year (estimate) National Registry II - a new rule to transfer driver data from MEs to State Driver s Licensing authorities through NR

24 Online Tools & Resources Visit the National Registry Web site at Registry.FMCSA. dot.gov or call (202) Locate a Certified Medical Examiner Download Brochures Fact Sheets Posters

25 Questions Go to or call(202)