[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 220 (Monday, November 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 63711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30478]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


TRICARE; The 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 Dwight D. 
Eisenhower Army Medical Center (EAMC), Fort Gordon, Georgia, has been 
designated a regional Specialized Treatment Services facility (STSF) 
for Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery, Peripheral 
Vascular Surgery, and Head and Neck Surgery. The application for this 
STSF designation was submitted by the Lead Agent for TRICARE Region 3 
and approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). 
The Lead Agent will oversee that the STSF maintains the quality and 
standards required for specialized treatment services. This designation 
covers the following Diagnostic Related Groups:

001--Craniotomy, Age Greater than 17, Except for Trauma
004--Spinal Procedures
049--Major Head and Neck Procedures
191--Pancreas, Liver and Shunt Procedures with CC
110--Major Cardiovascular Procedures with CC
111--Major Cardiovascular Procedures without CC
286--Adrenal and Pituitary Procedures
209--Major Joint and Limb Reattachment Procedures of Lower Extremity
491--Major Joint and Limb Reattachment of Upper Extremity

DoD beneficiaries who reside in the EAMC STS Catchment Area must be 
evaluated by EAMC before receiving TRICARE/CHAMPUS cost sharing for 
procedures that fall under the above Diagnostic Related Groups, in 
accordance with TRICARE/CHAMPUS Nonavailability Statement policy. 
Travel and lodging for the patient and, if stated to be medically 
necessary by a referring physician, for a nonmedical attendant, will be 
reimbursed by EAMC in accordance with the provisions of the Joint 
Federal Travel Regulation. Although evaluation in person is preferred, 
it is possible to conduct the evaluation telephonically if the patient 
is unable to travel to EAMC. If the procedure cannot be performed at 
EAMC, Humana Military Healthcare Services will provide a medical 
necessity review prior to issuance of a Nonavailability Statement or 
other similar authorizations. The EAMC STSF Catchment Area is defined 
by zip codes in the Defense Medical Information System STS Facilities 
Catchment Area Directory. The Catchment Area includes zip codes within 
TRICARE Region 3 that fall within a 200-mile radius of EAMC.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colonel Richard Traugott, EAMC, (706) 787-8288; or Lt. Col. Teresa 
Sommese, TRICARE Management Activity, (703) 681-3628, extension 5029; 
or Mr. Tariq Shahid, TRICARE Management Activity, (303) 676-3801.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In FR DOC 93-27050, appearing in the Federal 
Register on November 5, 1993 (Vol. 58, FR 58955-58964), 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. This notice is issued under 
the authority of 10 U.S.C. 1105 and 32 CFR 199.4(a)(10).

    Dated: November 9, 1998.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-30478 Filed 11-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M