BasicMed Goes Live

I found the article on BasicMed (BasicMed Takes Effect, May 2017) very interesting. Im a big promoter of BasicMed and of AMEs doing BasicMed exams. I fully realize the article was written prior to the FAA issuing its final checklist (Form 8700-2), but allow me to share some observations.

Editorial Staff

Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

BasicMed cannot be denied or deferred; similar to a flight review, an unsatisfactory exam simply results in no endorsement rather than a "failure."
AMEs conducting BasicMed exams are considered medical providers and not FAA designees, meaning they receive no liability protection from the FAA.
The final Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) was altered from its draft to ensure HIPAA compliance, requiring doctors to simply confirm an examination rather than report abnormalities.
The article advocates for promoting BasicMed as a legitimate "fourth FAA medical" alongside First, Second, and Third Class certificates.

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I found the article on BasicMed (“BasicMed Takes Effect,” May 2017) very interesting. I’m a big promoter of BasicMed and of AMEs doing BasicMed exams. I fully realize the article was written prior to the FAA issuing its final checklist (Form 8700-2), but allow me to share some observations.

One of the biggest advantages of BasicMed is that it cannot be denied or deferred. This is huge. It is like a flight review or an instrument proficiency check—a pilot cannot fail them. If the results are not satisfactory, the CFI simply does not endorse the logbook.