[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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