Medical Examination of Aliens-Revisions to Medical Screening Process

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is amending its regulations that govern medical examinations that aliens must undergo before they may be admitted to the United States. HHS/CDC is amending the definition of communicable disease of public health significance. HHS/CDC is also amending the provisions that describe the scope of the medical examination for aliens by incorporating a more flexible, risk- based approach, based on medical and epidemiologic factors. This approach will assist HHS/CDC in determining which diseases the medical screening, testing, and treatment of aliens should include in areas of the world that are experiencing unforeseen outbreaks of those diseases. In addition, HHS/CDC is updating the screening requirements for tuberculosis to be consistent with current medical knowledge and practice. These changes will reduce the health-security threat to the United States from emerging diseases without imposing an undue burden on either the aliens or the health-care system in U.S. resettlement communities.