• Medical Affairs

  Frequently Asked Questions

  1. 1. Why is the Commissioned Corps replacing the five-year physical examination with an annual health update?

  The periodic health update (PHU) is an evidence-based, patient-centered evaluation that aligns with the military services. A PHU provides more updated and relevant health information to Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ) Medical Affairs Branch (MAB) than a five-year physical examination. MAB must have current health information on every officer to support CCHQ’s assessment of an officer’s readiness to deploy, which is a condition of service.

  2. 2. I am currently serving with the Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Department of Defense, can I have an annual Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) done instead of the PHU?

  No, as a Commissioned Corps officer you must complete and submit an annual PHU.

  3. When will I need to submit my first PHU?

  • a. The PHU requirement begins on January 1, 2020.
  • b. You must complete and submit the PHU during your birth month period (the first day of the month preceding the month in which you were born and the last day of the month after the month in which you were born - 3 month window).
  • c. During the transition to the PHU, no officer may get a PHU less than one year after his/her last periodic physical.
  • d. During the transition to the PHU, no officer may have over five years between physical examinations.
  • e. Your PHU is due:

    Last Periodic Physical	Initial PHU Due	Subsequent PHU Due
    Before 1/2016 *	By the end of the month 5 years after your last periodic physical or your birth month between 1/2020 and 12/2020, whichever comes earlier.	First birth month no sooner than 1 year after initial PHU and every 1 year thereafter
    1/2016-12/2018	Birth Month, 2020	Every 1 year thereafter
    1/2019-12/2019 **	First birth month, 2020-2021 that is at least one year after last periodic physical	Every 1 year thereafter

  *PHU Due Dates (Last Periodic Physical Examination < 1/1/2016) Click to Enlarge
  **PHU Due Dates (Last Periodic Physical Examination 1/2019-12/2019) Click to Enlarge

  4. When will newly commissioned officers get their first PHU?

  Newly commissioned officers will get their first PHU during their first birth month period that is at least one year after their accession physical examination.

  5. What is the Behavioral Health Survey? Why is it included in the PHU?

  The Behavioral Health Survey (PHS-7083) contains four screening surveys that can help identify signs of possible alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Similar surveys are being used by the military services.

  The Behavioral Health Survey serves two important purposes: (1) The survey can start a conversation with your provider about your mental well-being and (2) The survey provides a baseline survey for comparison with future post-deployment surveys.

  6. Why has the form for my dental examination changed?

  The DD-2813, “DoD Active Duty/Reserve/Guard/Civilian Forces Dental Examination” form is much simpler than the PHS-6355 and more appropriate for a routine annual examination.

  7. Can I submit my dental examination on the PHS-6355?

  If you already have a record of your dental examination on a PHS-6355 form, you can submit that form. All new dental exams are written on the DD-2813 form.

  8. Do I have to get my dental examination during the birth month period?

  That would be ideal, but MAB will accept a dental examination done up to six months prior to your birth month.

  9. What do I need to do prior to seeing my provider and what do I need to bring to my appointment?

  Complete the DD-2807-1, “Report of Medical History”. Also, complete the PHS-7083, “Behavioral Health Survey” as close to your medical appointment as possible. Print both of these documents as well as a DD-2808, “Report of Medical Examination,” and “PHU Instructions for Healthcare providers.” At the time of your appointment, give all four documents to your provider.

  10. What testing is required?

  You should get a health screening examination (e.g. cervical, breast, colorectal cancer screening) as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. The only mandatory tests are your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, etc.) and weight. The comprehensiveness of your PHU and additional testing is at the recommendations of your provider, however your provider should follow up on your current active health conditions or risks as clinically indicated.

  11. Do I have to complete required USPSTF recommended screening during my birth month period?

  You should be on a regular schedule for your screenings based on the recommendations of USPSTF and your provider. Remain on that schedule and do not delay screening or get screening too early just to align with your PHU. When submitting your PHU, please include the report(s) of your last completed screening test(s).

  12. Has the retirement physical examination changed as well?

  Retirement physical examinations are strongly recommended, but they are not mandatory. Their use is to document the status of all health conditions that you may have developed while in service. As such, if you are going for a retirement examination, ask your provider to complete the DD-2808.

  13. In addition to the PHU, are there any other changes in the medical readiness requirements?

  Yes. Screening for latent tuberculosis (e.g. PPD, QuantiFERON-TB Gold, T-SPOT.TB) is no longer a readiness requirement. All applicants to the Corps will have screening for latent tuberculosis (LTBI) during the medical clearance process done through the DoD’s Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB). A second negative PPD within a one year period is no longer needed to be exempt from additional LTBI screening. It is expected, however, that if you deploy where there is a significant tuberculosis infection risk that you get appropriate screening for LTBI after the deployment and submit the results to MAB.

  If you are required to get regular LTBI screening by your duty station, you must comply with that requirement and you should send the results to MAB by uploading them through the eDOC-U application.

  14. What is the Medical Readiness Category (MRC) that I see on my Readiness dashboard and how does it relate to the PHU?

  From the information you give in the PHU, the Medical Affairs Branch (MAB) will determine your medical deployment status. The MRC provides a method for MAB to communicate with the Readiness and Deployment Branch without disclosing your protected health information. The categories are as follows:

  MRC-1	Can be deployed anywhere without limitations
  MRC-2	Can be deployed, but due to health status has some limitations, special needs or requires some treatment or vaccination which can be completed within 48 hours prior to deployment.
  MRC-3	Temporarily not deployable (e.g. pregnancy, breast feeding, recent surgery or fracture, recent change in chronic medication, current significant illness). Usually, assigned in concert with the issuance of a temporary deployment waiver.
  MRC-4	Temporarily not deployable due to inadequate or incomplete information to determine MRC (e.g. outdated physical examination, documentation of a new permanent condition requiring more in depth medical record review). Requires timely action by MAB to resolve MRC status.

  MRC-1, 3, and 4 are self-explanatory. MRC-2 allows MAB to communicate your health needs (e.g. reliable electricity, refrigeration), limitations (e.g. unable to carry heavy weight), or needed acute treatments (e.g. special vaccination) to assure as safe a deployment as possible.
• USER ASSISTANCE

  Please check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) . FAQs are located at the top of the page next to the search function.

  Having Access Issues or Need IT Help? Please contact the Commissioned Corps Helpdesk at: CCHelpDesk@hhs.gov

  COMMISSIONED CORPS NEWS

  2020 Temporary Grade Promotion Results are Available!

  2020 temporary grade promotion lists are now available on the Promotion Results webpage...

  FAQs Practice Hours and Special Pay Changes

  This is first in a series of FAQs, more FAQs will be forthcoming on Practice Hours and Special Pays.

  Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Mission - Deployments Readiness Updates

  As we position ourselves to assist with controlling the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), please note that we’re in an “all-hands on deck” status. Messaging has gone out from the Assistant Secretary for Health reminding Commissioned Corps officers of their deployment responsibilities...

Protecting, Promoting and Advancing the Health and Safety of Our Nation. Commissioned Corps Headquarters
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 300
Rockville, MD. 20852
240-453-6000

• 1. 
     COMMISSIONED CORPS

  2. Home
  3. Contact Us
  4. About Us
  5. Site Map

• 1. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
     HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

  2. HHS Home
  3. Office of Assistant Secretary for Health
  4. Office of the Surgeon General
  5. USPHS.gov

• 1. 
     U.S. GOVERNMENT

  2. The White House
  3. USA.gov
  4. USAJOBS.gov
  5. DATA.gov

• 1. 
     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  2. Plain Writing Act
  3. Accessibility
  4. Privacy Notice
  5. Freedom of Information Act
  6. Disclaimers