Policy
Directive
Effective Date: August 16, 2011
Expiration Date: September 08, 2025
|
|
NASA Policy Directive |
NPD 8900.3H Effective Date: August 16, 2011 Expiration Date: September 08, 2025 |
CHANGE HISTORY
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
03/04/2017 |
Updated the policy statement and to comply with 1400 Compliance with administrative changes. |
|
2 |
02/09/2022 |
Updated the policy statement to insert policy previously documented in a 2015 CHMO memo into the NPD. |
|
3 |
10/11/2023 |
Revalidated for another five years with administrative changes made to comply with requirements described in NPR 1400.1. |
a. It is NASA's policy that:
(1) The immediate and long-term responsibilities of NASA with regard to the human space flight program require that the Agency provide medical and dental care and occupational monitoring to astronauts, payload specialists, and other space flight participants while they are on active duty with NASA. Biomedical evidence from clinical and research observations conducted during and following space flight suggests that astronauts may be at increased health risk due to changes in the central nervous system, visual system, bone density and structure, and injuries related to space suit operations and may have significant negative impact to human fertility. As we learn more from these observations, our ability to assess medical risk from space flight is improved. To help optimize astronaut health and performance, and to manage the potential health effects of exposure to training and space flight, NASA will offer comprehensive medical and dental care as applicable to the NASA mission, including Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) which has a lifetime maximum benefit of $54,000 and up to three courses per active astronaut. Facets of the mission include certification, training, and all space flight mission phases (pre-, in-, and post-flight). NASA will also provide occupational health monitoring and a program of longitudinal health study, including current and retired astronauts, payload specialists, and other space flight participants.
(2) The health of family members of those crewmembers who remain eligible for space flight assignment is of critical importance, and factors such as infectious disease and stress affecting a crewmember's family may have serious adverse effects on the crewmember's health and performance, as well as the health and performance of other crewmembers. Limited outpatient medical care on a diagnosis and referral basis will be provided by Johnson Space Center (JSC) onsite flight medicine clinics to the crewmember's immediate family, as long as the crewmember is eligible for assignment to a space flight mission.
(3) Medical and dental insurance are available for current or active duty United States (U.S.) astronauts, payload specialists, and other space flight participants. NASA will pay for health care costs of crewmembers eligible for space flight assignment not covered under the individual's insurance plan when the individual is referred by a NASA medical or dental officer and the referral is required for space flight eligibility.
(4) Consistent with agreements between NASA and the International Partners, NASA will provide astronauts and payload specialists from the international community, while they are on active duty and eligible for space flightassignment in the U.S., the same level of medical care, observation, and study provided to the U.S. astronauts and payload specialists.
(5) Astronauts, payload specialists, and other space flight participants may voluntarily participate as subjects in biomedical research during space flight missions, provided their participation is supervised by a NASA physician and the research complies with and is in accordance with NPD 7100.8, Protection of Human Research Subjects. All human experimental and research data records and health information management system records compiled, pursuant to this NPD, are subject to 5 U.S.C. 552a , and NPR 1382.1.
a. This NPD is applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers.
b. In this directive, all mandatory actions (i.e., requirements) are denoted by statements containing the term "shall." The terms: "may" or "can" denote discretionary privilege or permission, "should" denotes a good practice and is recommended, but not required, "will" denotes expected outcome, and "are/is" denotes descriptive material.
c. In this directive, all document citations are assumed to be the latest version unless otherwise noted.
a. Health Service Programs, 5 U.S.C. 7901.
b. The National Aeronautics and Space Act, as amended, 51 U.S.C. 20113(a).
NPD 7100.8, Protection of Human Research Subjects.
a. The Chief Health and Medical Officer (CHMO) is responsible for coordination and overall monitoring of this NPD, to include conducting periodic reviews of its implementation.
b. The Associate Administrator (AA), Space Operations Mission Directorate, is responsible for ensuring that this NPD is implemented and that necessary status reports will be provided to the CHMO and will include the data in support of the metrics outlined in Section 7. Measurements.
c. The NASA Medical Policy Board is responsible for providing policy guidance regarding this program and for any recommendations regarding changes to this NPD to the NASA CHMO.
d. The Center Director, JSC, is responsible for developing and implementing an Astronaut Medical and Dental Care, Observation, and Study Program consistent with the policies set forth in this NPD.
e. Directors of other NASA Centers and other NASA officials provide support to this program as required.
None.
a. The percentage of NASA Centers responding positively to survey questions.
(1) The CHMO conducts an annual survey of the health care delivery systems of each Center responsible for astronaut medical care to ascertain whether appropriate Center personnel are cognizant of this NPD and an implementation plan is in place. The higher the percentage of compliance, the greater the success of the program.
b. The percentage of active-duty U.S astronauts, payload specialists, and other space flight participants with medical and dental insurance. The AA, Space Operations Mission Directorate, and Director, Space and Life Sciences, at JSC, conducts an annual survey to ascertain the medical and dental insurance status of each active-duty astronaut and payload specialist. The higher the percentage of active-duty astronauts and payload specialists with medical and dental insurance, the greater the success of the program.
c. The number of retired astronauts who receive an annual physical examination as part of the Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health (LSAH) Program as compared to the total number of retired astronauts available, expressed as a percentage.
(1) The CHMO will conduct an annual assessment of the LSAH to identify the percentage of retired astronauts who receive an annual physical examination as compared to the total number of retired astronauts. The higher the percentage of retired astronauts receiving an annual physical examination, the greater the success of the program.
NPD 8900.3G, Astronaut Medical and Dental Observation Study and Care Program, dated January 8, 2003.
A.1 Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a.
A.2 Protection of Human Subjects, 14 CFR pt. 1230 and 45 CFR pt. 46.
A.3 NPD 1440.6, NASA Records Management.
A.4 NPD 1800.2, NASA Occupational Health Program.
A.5 NPD 8710.1, Emergency Preparedness Program.
A.6 NPD 8900.1, Medical Operations Responsibilities in Support of Human Space Flight Programs.
A.7 NPD 8900.5, NASA Health and Medical Policy for Human Space Exploration.
A.8 NPR 1441.1, NASA Records Retention Schedules.
A.9 NPR 1382.1, NASA Privacy Procedural Requirements.
A.10 NPR 8715.2, NASA Emergency Preparedness Procedural Requirements.
A.11 NPR 8715.3, NASA General Safety Program Requirements.
A.12 NPR 8900.1, Health and Medical Requirements for Human Space Exploration.
This document does not bind the public, except as authorized by law or as incorporated into a contract. This document is uncontrolled when printed. Check the NASA Online Directives Information System (NODIS) Library to verify that this is the correct version before use: https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov.