[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 169 (Thursday, August 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45412-45413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21998]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

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 Walter Reed 
Army Medical Center (WRAMC), and National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), 
have been designated as the components of a Multi-Regional Specialized 
Treatment Services (STS) Facility for Cardiac Surgery for TRICARE 
Regions 1 and 2. This designation covers the following Diagnosis 
Related Groups:

104--Cardiac valve procedure with cardiac cath
105--Cardiac valve procedure without cardiac cath
106--Coronary bypass with cardiac cath
107--Coronary bypass without cardiac cath
108--Other cardiothoracic procedures

[[Page 45413]]

110--Major cardiovascular procedures with cardiac cath
111--Major cardiovascular procedures without cardiac cath

    Travel and lodging for the patient and, if stated to be medically 
necessary by a referring physician, for one nonmedical attendant, will 
be reimbursed by WRAMC or NNMC in accordance with the provisions of the 
Joint Federal Travel Regulation. All DoD beneficiaries who reside in 
the Multi-Regional STS Catchment Area for TRICARE Region 1 which 
includes participation by TRICARE Region 2 must be evaluated by WRAMC 
or NNMC before receiving CHAMPUS cost sharing for procedures that fall 
under the above Diagnosis Related Groups. Evaluation in person is 
preferred, and travel and lodging expenses for the evaluation will be 
reimbursed as stated above. It is possible to conduct the evaluation 
telephonically if the patient is unable to travel to WRAMC or NNMC. If 
the procedure cannot be performed at WRAMC or NNMC, the facility will 
provide a medical necessity review in order to support issuance of a 
Nonavailability Statement.
    The Region 1 Multi-Regional STS Catchment Area covering TRICARE 
Regions 1 and 2 is defined by zip code in the Defense Medical 
Information System STS Facilities Catchment Area Directory, dated 
December 1, 1995. The Catchment Area includes zip codes within TRICARE 
Regions 1 and 2 in the District of Columbia and the states of Delaware, 
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and 
Virginia that fall within a 200 mile radius of the midpoint of a line 
between WRAMC and NNMC.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colonel Dennis Moritz, WRAMC, at (202) 782-6433, Captain Edward Zech, 
NNMC, at (301) 295-2552, 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 23, 1996.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 96-21998 Filed 8-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M