Medical Card Question.

No rule or case precedent forces a carrier to accept a medical. I understand your reluctance to go to Concentra. The thing is, you can ask, but I doubt they will accept that physical. I understand this places you between a rock and a hard place. If the carrier demands that you go to Concentra, your only choice is to either go or find another carrier.

 

You can ask and they may accept your card because you have over a year left on it. You however have a better chance of them requiring you to go to Concentra for a new physical.

My personal opinion is that i’d look elsewhere for work. Like you i’ve had my run in’s with Concentra and now refuse to go there. If a company were require it’d work elsewhere

 

Concentra, at least in the Portland, OR area, may have changed their "anyone overweight has sleep apnea" approach.

I'm fully retired but I was recently contacted to come back to work and I was asked to get a new physical at Concentra, even though my current Med. card has several months remaining. I explained to the hiring manager that that was a hard pass, I'm not coming out of retirement to get a 3 month card and be ordered to do a sleep study. He told me that they don't push the sleep study anymore.

The next day I went to the Concentra closest to my house but one that has always only given me a 3 month card and required a sleep study. Being skeptical as all get out, I was very pleasantly surprised when the Dr. came in and asked me a few health related questions but never mentioned sleep apnea!

I guess they have changed as I'm 5' 9" and 252lbs and my neck was measured at 15.5 inches. Apparently those weren't the red flags that they used to automatically qualify you for only a 3 month card.

When the medical technician came in to hand me my paperwork, there was a brand new 2 year card. And I checked my MVR and it has been added to the database and now that's the one linked to my CDL.

 

Went to a local chiropractor a couple weeks ago and got my 2 year card. 6'1 300 pounds and passed all the tests. No mention of the scam sleep study.

I have a couple 3 month cards from scamcentra because of the sleep study scam. Your choice is to keep looking for a company that will accept your current card or allows you to choose the place.

With the new system of the clinic sending the results, I wouldn't risk a scamcentra visit.

 

About the "Sleep Study Scam." Over the last several years, I have written many comments on this topic. Not only in TTR but other places. What most folks, especially the new drivers, don't understand is the history of the FMCSA and OSA. Many years ago, the FMCSA developed "standards" for Medical Examiners to follow. Things like neck size etc to follow. Then the US Congress slapped their hand, and those standards were removed. The problem, though, is that by then, many clinics had invested in sleep clinics. In fact, many Neurologists stopped practicing fully in that field and started in the OSA field and heavily invested in the sleep study business.

Right about now, I am positive that at least one driver will make a reply that they have OSA and are using CPAP. They sleep better because of it. I in no way want to be misunderstood about OSA. What I am saying is that some drivers who "meet" these standards are sleeping just fine. I have OSA. I have known it now for almost 2 decades. In fact, just the other day I was at the Hospital here in Williamsburg having Pulmonary testing done. I have an MD who specializes in Pulmonary problems. She has me watching my PLUSEOX several times a day. It is difficult for me to get uninterrupted sleep because I am taking 2 powerful, basically water pills. I wake up at least every 2 hours or so and need to get up and relieve myself. However, when I do finally get up, I am not sleepy all day and generally go all day without any naps.

I am by OSA like I am another medical issue that I won't get into because it is highly charged politically.

I have said this before, and I get angry when I mention this. It peeves me off to the highest degree that a ME chooses to not believe a person when they say they are sleeping OK. I know several drivers today who are trapped in this OSA quicksand. My last DOT physical actually was done by a then-VA physician who was on the registry. She examined my throat, asked me how I was sleeping, and gave me a 1-year card. Not because of OSA but because of diabetes. This is the way ALL MEs should be doing.

Congress needs to hold hearings on this matter. This incestuous relationship between the Sleep Studies clinics, CPAP makers, and the MEs is WRONG!

 

I feel its even worse now in other areas with the new examine requirements.

Seems like Concerta probably has to do with it.