NASA Procedures and Guidelines
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NPR 3713.1 Eff. Date: November 18, 2002 Cancellation Date: March 28, 2008	Procedures for Providing Reasonable Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities w/Change 1 (4/8/04)
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Chapter 8. Requests for Medical Information

8.1 NASA is entitled to know that an employee or applicant has a disability that requires an accommodation. In cases where the disability and need for accommodation is obvious or otherwise already known to the DM, the Agency will not seek additional medical documentation from the requestor. However, when a disability and/or need for accommodation is not obvious or otherwise already known to the DM, NASA may require reasonable documentation from the individual regarding the disability and his or her functional limitations.

8.2 If the DM, with assistance from a NASA or contractor physician at their respective installation, believes that medical information is necessary in order to evaluate a request for accommodation, she/he shall request such information from the person seeking accommodation(s). If medical information is not necessary, the processing of the request for accommodation shall continue.

8.3 If a determination is made to seek medical information, a request for medical and other information pertaining only to the disability that requires accommodation can be made in order to substantiate that the individual has a disability and needs the accommodation requested. The DM (with appropriate consultation), will seek information or documentation about the disability and/or functional limitations from the individual, and/or ask the individual to obtain such information from an appropriate professional, such as a doctor, social worker, or rehabilitation counselor. In order to get the most helpful information possible, all requests for information shall describe the nature of the job, the essential functions the individual is expected to perform, and any other relevant information.

8.4 Once the medical documentation is received, the DM, in consultation with the Medical Director or other NASA chosen physician, if appropriate, shall evaluate it. If the information provided by the health professional (or the information volunteered by the individual requesting the accommodation) is insufficient to allow the DM (with appropriate consultation), to determine whether an accommodation is appropriate, the DM may ask for additional information. However, the DM shall first explain to the individual seeking the accommodation, in specific terms, why the information which has been provided is insufficient, what additional information is needed, and why it is necessary for a determination on the accommodation request.

8.5 Alternatively, the individual seeking accommodation may sign a limited release reviewed by the Center/Component Facility's Office of Chief Counsel or, at Headquarters, the Office of the General Counsel, authorizing NASA to contact his/her health care provider directly. If, after a reasonable period, there is still not sufficient information to demonstrate that the individual has a disability and needs an accommodation, the DM may request that the individual be examined by a NASA or contractor physician chosen by NASA and at NASA's expense. This examination must be limited to determining the existence of a disability and/or the functional limitations that require accommodation.

8.6 In some cases, the individual requesting the accommodation will supply medical information directly to the DM without being asked. In these cases, the DM shall consider such documentation (with appropriate consultation), and if additional information is needed, the DM shall work with the physician or other health professional chosen by NASA as set forth in this chapter.

8.7 NASA must explain to the individual with a disability that the failure to provide appropriate documentation or to cooperate with NASA's efforts to obtain such documentation may result in a denial of the requested accommodation.

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