3rd class HIMS-SI to BasicMed - any reason not to?

[LowHrsMan]

So I finally got my 3rd class HIMS SI medical in August after 15 months of back and forth with the FAA. HIMS is required for SSRI usage only; no DUI, substance abuse, etc. I also have SI for loss of kidney function (stable), history of DVTs (10+ yrs ago), warfarin (due to DVTs), and ulcerative colitis. SSRI dosage and treatment has been stable for 10+ years.

My 3rd class expires end of Nov. I can either go to my HIMS AME and get 6 more months, which is doable but a pain. My psychiatrist prescribing the SSRI needs to review my complete FAA medical file (last time it took 2+ months to get that from OKC!), which the psychiatrist is luke warm about, and then send a report to the AME every 6 months. Normally I only see the psychiatrist yearly. Then there's the annual reports from the kidney doc, GI doc, and primary doc for the warfarin / INR results, and so on and so on. Then there's repeating the neuro assessment every 2 years. In short, a lot of stuff.

Or I can just switch to basic med once my 3rd class expires in about 6 weeks.

Is there any reason I should NOT just to switch to basic med and be done with it?

The only reasons I can think are: 1) flying outside the U.S. requires a 3rd class, and 2) getting a another SI if a new disqualifying medical condition were to arise might be much more problematic or impossible.

LowHrsMan

 

[Half Fast]

1) flying outside the U.S. requires a 3rd class,

Mexico and the Bahamas are good with Basic Med. I've spoken to folks from other Carib destinations who say it's a non-issue, though there's nothing formal that I'm aware of. Know before you go.

2) getting a another SI if a new disqualifying medical condition were to arise might be much more problematic or impossible.

Only an issue if the condition is on the list of a handful of things that require it for Basic Med. Many conditions do not (sleep apnea, for example). And you could always switch to flying LSAs under SP rules without a medical or Basic.

 

[LowHrsMan]

Mexico and the Bahamas are good with Basic Med. I've spoken to folks from other Carib destinations who say it's a non-issue, though there's nothing formal that I'm aware of. Know before you go.

Good to know, thanks! I was specifically thinking of Canada, which is not good with BM AFAIK.

 

[Jereme Carne]

+1 to what Half Fast said.

Only a handful of medical conditions would need another SI under basicmed. Which everyone would have to go through regardless of previous history.

Sure would be nice if Canada though...

 

[Half Fast]

Yeah, it would be nice if Canada would come around, but so far the FAA won't recognize one of Canada's medical qualification, so they won't recognize Basic. Maybe someday....

 

[bbchien]

Also the decision relies on if you are at the age of potentially getting a stent (cardiac). The minor pain of six monthly maintenance vs the MAJOR pain of starting over again if you need to get a cardiac SI......is considerable.

 

[LowHrsMan]

Also the decision relies on if you are at the age of potentially getting a stent (cardiac). The minor pain of six monthly maintenance vs the MAJOR pain of starting over again if you need to get a cardiac SI......is considerable.

Thanks doc, I was hoping you would comment.
Given that I'm 55 with no history or family history of heart trouble, I think that's a risk I'm willing to take.

LHM