Final Rule 42 CFR Part 34: Medical Examination of Aliens – Revisions to Medical Screening Process

On January 26, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted a Final Rule to the Federal Register that revises the medical screening process for the medical examination for people immigrating to the United States (e.g., immigrants, refugees, asylees, and parolees).

HHS/CDC has authority to establish requirements for the medical examination of aliens before they may be admitted into the United States.  CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine administers these regulations. This final rule updates 42 CFR part 34 to better protect U.S. public health.

Specifically, this final rule revised the definition of “communicable disease of public health significance” by removing chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum as health conditions that prevent entry into  the United States; updated the notification of the health-related grounds of inadmissibility to include proof of vaccinations to align with existing requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act; revised the definitions and evaluation criteria for mental disorders, drug abuse and drug addiction; clarified and revised the evaluation requirements for tuberculosis; clarified and revised the process for the HHS/CDC-appointed medical review board that convenes to reexamine any appeal; and updated the titles and designations of federal agencies within the text of the regulation.

You can learn more about this final rule through the links below:

• Final Rule
• Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, or to view public comments HHS/CDC received on the proposal, please see the docket details. You may also view the final rule as a PDF file. [PDF – 16 pages]