In this special edition of Medical Mondays, aviation attorney Matthew Bulow discusses two aviation medical bills unanimously passed by the Senate on September 25: the Mental Health and Aviation Act and the Aviation Medication Transparency Act. The bills, S. 3257 and S. 3258, aim to address longstanding concerns with the FAA\u2019s medical certification process. Before becoming law, the bills must pass the House again following a Senate amendment and be signed by the president.<\/span><\/p>

The Aviation Medication Transparency Act would require the FAA to publish and annually update a plain-language list identifying medications that are allowed, conditionally acceptable or prohibited for pilots and air traffic controllers, along with guidance on mandatory grounding periods. It would also establish a way for treating physicians to consult directly with FAA medical staff before prescribing. The Mental Health and Aviation Act would require changes to Part 67 to encourage pilots and controllers to seek mental health care and disclose conditions during certification. It would also require action on recommendations from the FAA\u2019s Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee, provide greater review of the Special Issuance process, fund AME recruitment and training, address certification backlogs and create a public education campaign focused on reducing mental health stigma in aviation.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t