[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 166 (Monday, August 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43739-43740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21681]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services 
(CHAMPUS); Specialized Treatment Service (STS) Program

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties that the New 
Mexico Regional Federal Medical Center (NMFRMC) has been designated as 
a National Specialized Treatment Services (STS) Facility for Advanced 
Neuoroimaging. This designation covers neuroimaging to support care for 
the following Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs):

 2--Craniotomy for trauma, age greater than 17
 3--Craniotomy, age 0-17
10--Nervous system neoplasms with complications or comorbid conditions
11--Nervous system neoplasms without complications or comorbid 
conditions
12--Degenerative nervous system disorders
13--Specific cerebrovascular disorders except transient ischemic attack
16--Nonspecific cerebrovascular disorders with complications or 
comorbid conditions
17--Nonspecific cerebrovascular disorders without complications or 
comorbid conditions
24--Seizure and headache, age greater than 17 with complications or 
comorbid conditions
25--Seizure and headache, age greater than 17 with complications or 
comorbid conditions
26--Seizure and headache, age 0 to 17
34--Other disorders of the nervous system with complications or 
comorbid conditions
35--Other disorders of the nervous system without complications or 
comorbid conditions

    The advanced neuroimaging modalities include 122 channel whole head 
magnetic source imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and 
electroencephalography, with three dimensional integration of data. 
Advance neuroimaging evaluation will

[[Page 43740]]

be offered to those DOD beneficiaries with abnormalities that cannot be 
adequately defined by imaging methods available elsewhere, when the 
advance imaging would be reasonably expected to provide information 
that will guide surgical or medical therapy. Requests for advanced 
neuroimaging by a referring physician will be considered and approved, 
if indicated, by a staff neuroradiologist at Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center (WRAMC). There is no requirement for Nonavailability Statement 
issuance by the facility to beneficiaries who undergo neuroimaging 
elsewhere. Travel and lodging for the patient and, if stated to be 
medically necessary by a referring physician, for one nonmedical 
attendant, will be reimbursed in accordance with the provisions of the 
Joint Federal Regulation.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Brazaitis, WRAMC, at (202) 782-0508, Major 
Mark Depper, WRAMC, at (202) 782-9362, or Colonel Michael Dunn, OSD 
(Health Affairs), at (703) 695-6800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In FR DOC 93-27050, appearing in the Federal 
Register on November 5, 1993 (Vol. 58, FR 58995-58964), the final rule 
on the STS Program was published. Included in the final rule was a 
provision that a notice of all military and civilian STS facilities be 
published in the Federal Register annually.

    Dated: August 20, 1996.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 96-21681 Filed 8-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M