(Washington, DC – Insurance News 360) – In September, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced rules that allows people with an insulin regimen and properly controlled insulin-treated diabetes mellitus to drive commercial vehicles in interstate commerce.
Before the new rule, individuals with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus were not allowed to drive commercial motor vehicles without an exemption from FMCSA. Now, administrative and financial burdens for these groups are lifted, and safety is maintained.
AN individual with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus may receive a medical examiner’s certificate for up to a year. The healthcare professional who manages a driver’s condition and prescribes insulin must certify that the patient has a stable insulin regimen and has their condition under control. The certified medical examiner will determine whether the application meets the FMCSA’s physical qualification standards and is able to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.
“This final action delivers economic savings to affected drivers and our agency, and streamlines processes by eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens and redundancy,” said FMCSA Administrator Raymond P. Martinez. “It’s a win-win for all parties involved.”
The final rule eliminates the requirement of the exemption program that requires individuals with and prescribes to incur recurring costs to renew and maintain their exemptions. FMCSA estimates this will save the nearly 5,000 individuals with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus who currently have exemptions more than $5 million per year. The final rule will also save new exemption applicants and their associated motor carriers approximately $215,000 annually in opportunity and compliance costs related with the exemption program’s waiting period.
As an agency, FMCSA will save more than $1 million per year over the next three years in costs associated with administering the diabetes exemption program.
A copy of the final rule is available here.
Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.