[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 13870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7328]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

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

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties that Keesler 
Medical Center has been designated as a Regional Specialized Treatment 
Services (STS) Facility for Cardiac Surgery for TRICARE Region 4. 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
110--Major cardiovascular procedures with cardiac cath
111--Major cardiovascular procedures without cardiac cath
112--Percutaneous cardiovascular procedures
124--Circulatory diseases except acute myocardial infarction, with 
cardiac cath and complex diagnoses
125--Circulatory diseases except acute myocardial infarction, with 
cardiac cath without complex diagnoses

    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 Keesler Medical Center in accordance with the 
provisions of the Joint Federal Travel Regulation. All DoD 
beneficiaries who reside in the Regional STS Catchment Area for TRICARE 
Region 4 must be evaluated by Keesler Medical Center 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 Keesler Medical Center. If the procedure cannot 
be performed at Keesler Medical Center, the facility will provide a 
medical necessity review in order to support issuance of a 
Nonavailability Statement.
    The Regional STS Catchment Area covering TRICARE Region 4 is 
defined by zip code in the Defense Medical Information System STS 
Facilities Catchment Area Directory. The Catchment Area includes zip 
codes within TRICARE Region 4 that fall within a 200 mile radius of 
Keesler Medical Center.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Colonel Ellen Lewis, 
Keesler Medical Center, at (601) 377-9627, or Captain Margaret Orcutt, 
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: March 19, 1997.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 97-7328 Filed 3-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M