[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 212 (Tuesday, November 3, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59231-59232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28414]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

32 CFR Part 199

RIN 0720-AA42


Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services 
(CHAMPUS); State Victims of Crime Compensation Programs; Voice 
Prostheses

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule establishes CHAMPUS as primary payer to State 
Victims of Crime Compensation Programs; and voice prostheses as a 
CHAMPUS benefit.

EFFECTIVE DATES: Amendments to Secs. 199.2 and 199.8 are effective

[[Page 59232]]

September 13, 1994 and Sec. 199.4(g)(48) is effective October 5, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Connie Kiese, TRICARE Management 
Activity, Office of Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Systems (303) 
676-3578.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 20, 1997, DoD published an 
interim rule with a public comment period; however, no comments were 
received. Therefore, the interim final rule is being adopted as the 
final rule.
    Under 10 U.S.C. 1079(j)(1), no CHAMPUS benefits shall be available 
for the payment for any service or supply for persons enrolled in any 
other insurance, medical service, or health plan to the extent that the 
service or supply is a benefit under the other plan, except in the case 
of those plans administered under title XIX of the Social Security Act 
(Medicaid), (51 FR 24008). Therefore, in all double coverage 
situations, and for all classes of beneficiaries, CHAMPUS shall be 
secondary payer except when the other medical coverage is provided 
through Medicaid.
    However, on September 13, 1994, Public Law 103-322 was signed into 
law. Section 230202 of that law states that notwithstanding any other 
law, if the compensation paid by an eligible crime victim compensation 
plan would cover costs that a Federal program or a federally financed 
State or local program would otherwise pay, the crime compensation 
program shall not pay that compensation; and the other program shall 
make its payments without regard to the existence of the crime victim 
compensation program.
    This provision mandates, as an exception to 10 U.S.C. 1079(j)(1), 
that CHAMPUS assume primary payer status to State Victims of Crime 
Compensation Programs. Benefits will be granted retroactively effective 
September 13, 1994.
    Public Law 103-337, Section 705, October 5, 1994, added voice 
prostheses to the benefits available under CHAMPUS. Benefits will be 
granted retroactively effective October 5, 1994.

Regulatory Procedures

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires that each federal 
agency prepare, and make available for public comment, a regulatory 
flexibility analysis when the agency issues a regulation which would 
have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    This is not such a regulation. Nor is this final rule a significant 
regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. The changes set forth in 
this final rule are minor revisions to the existing regulation. In 
addition, this final rule does not impose new information collection 
requirements for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501-3511).

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 199

    Claims, Handicapped, Health Insurance, Military personnel.

PART 199--[AMENDED]

    Accordingly, 32 CFR part 199 is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 199 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 10 U.S.C. Chapter 55.

    2. Section 199.2(b) is amended by revising the definition ``State 
Victims of Crime Compensation Programs'' to read as follows:


Sec. 199.2  Definitions

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    State victims of crime compensation programs. Benefits available to 
victims of crime under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement 
Act.
* * * * *
    3. Section 199.4 is amended by revising paragraph (g)(48) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 199.4  Basic program benefits

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (48) Prosthetic devices. Prostheses, except artificial limbs, voice 
prostheses, eyes, or if an item is inserted surgically in the body as 
an integral part of a surgical procedure. All dental prostheses are 
excluded, except for those specially required in connection with 
otherwise covered orthodontia directly related to the surgical 
correction of a cleft palate anomaly.
* * * * *
    4. Section 199.8 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(3)(iii), (b) 
(3)(iv) and (b)(3)(v) to read as follows:


Sec. 199.8  Double coverage.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) Entitlement to receive care from Uniformed Services medical 
care facilities;
    (iv) Certain Federal Government programs, as prescribed by the 
Director, OCHAMPUS, that are designed to provide benefits to a distinct 
beneficiary population and for which entitlement does not derive from 
either premium payment of monetary contribution (for example, the 
Indian Health Service); or
    (v) State Victims of Crime Compensation Programs.
* * * * *
    Dated: October 19, 1998.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-28414 Filed 11-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M