Originally Posted by
Bananie
G. Medical Release Requirement
A 1. The DHS or his designee may request further information from a pilot who is required to verifyregarding his sickness or may require a pilot to provide a medical release when:
a. a pilot’s sick leave exceeds a medical release threshold, or
b. verification is required, or has been sought under Section 14 F. 4. may be required to provide 2.,and the Company withDHS is not able to assess the medical basis for the use of sick leave.
Note: Prior to requiring a medical rele
ase, the pilot must first be provided with an additional opportunity to submit verification that is acceptable to the DHS.
2. A medical release will be limited to a written authorization for release of medical information (release), provided the release is limited toto the DHS for:
1a. the specific sickness for which the pilot claimed sick leave, and
2b. the day(s) on which the pilot claimed sick leave and the consecutive day(s) off immediately preceding and succeeding the day(s) on which a pilot claimed sick leave, and.
3. If, following the review of information provided pursuant to a medical release, the DHS is not able to satisfactorily assess the medical basis for the use of sick leave, the release may be expanded to include a Company designated doctor or other health care professional(s) and the Director – Health Services and the Senior Vice- President of Flight Operations.
That's the best I can do with the language from the PDF. It sounds to me like the release is limited to:
the specific sickness for which the pilot claimed sick leave, and
the day(s) on which the pilot claimed sick leave and the consecutive day(s) off immediately preceding and succeeding the day(s) on which a pilot claimed sick leave.
As I read it, the way they described in the road show is correct. I guess I should ask, do you have specific language that allows them to get my whole medical file?
Bananie, I think it's item 3 that's troubling:
3. If, following the review of information provided pursuant to a medical release, the DHS is not able to satisfactorily assess the medical basis for the use of sick leave, the release may be expanded to include a Company designated doctor or other health care professional(s) and the Director – Health Services and the Senior Vice- President of Flight Operations.
What are the limitations for the company Dr or other health care professional?
I ask because I had my Drs. sick form "denied" twice already...
That is the game the company is playing. They parse the words with a razor and in one instance "denied" my sick leave because the signed and dated Delta sick form from my in-network Dr. that said I was sick and the prescription medication filled were
"not specific enough for stating the nature of the illness in general terms"
After many phone calls with the Delta sick leave admin, my LEC rep and Contract Admin nothing got resolved.
ALPA contract admin said the company was right and I should find a new Dr. that will fill out the sick leave form to the companies' liking.
In the end my only recourse was to speak to a Flight Ops manager in person. He was finally able to put the sillyness to rest.
Knowing that's how Delta parses our PWA sick leave language, I am very concerned with the new proposed contract language.
Cheers
george