[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65178-65179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31419]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties that Walter Reed
Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Washington, DC, located in TRICARE Region
1 has been designated a Multi-Regional Specialized Treatment Services
Facility (STSF) for Liver Transplantation and a National STSF for Renal
Transplantation. The application for the STSF designation was submitted
by WRAMC and approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health
Affairs). The Lead Agent for Region 1 will ensure that the STSF
maintains the quality and standards required for specialized treatment
services. The designation covers the following Diagnosis Related
Groups:
480--Liver Transplant
302--Kidney Transplant
Travel and lodging for the patient and, if stated to be medically
necessary by a referring physician, for one non-medical attendant, will
be reimbursed by WRAMC in accordance with the provisions of the Joint
Federal Travel Regulation. DOD beneficiaries who reside in the Multi-
Regional STS Catchment Area for liver transplant which includes TRICARE
Regions 1, 2, and 5 must be evaluated by WRAMC before receiving
TRICARE/CHAMPUS cost sharing for liver transplantation that falls under
Diagnosis Related Group 480. DOD beneficiaries who reside in the
National STS Catchment Area must be evaluated by WRAMC before receiving
TRICARE/CHAMPUS cost sharing for kidney transplantation that falls
under Diagnosis Related Group 302. 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. If the
procedures cannot be performed at WRAMC, the facility will provide a
medical necessity review prior to issuance of a Nonavailability
Statement.
The STS Multi-Regional Catchment Area for liver transplant covering
TRICARE Regions 1, 2, and 5 includes all zip codes within those TRICARE
Regions. The STS National Catchment Area for kidney transplant is
defined as the continental United States (i.e., 48 contiguous states
and the District of Columbia excluding Alaska and Hawaii).
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Kendra Drew, WRAMC, at (202) 782-4302, or Captain D. Michael Jones,
TRICARE Region 1 Lead Agent Office, at (202) 782-1483; or Lieutenant
Colonel 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).
[[Page 65179]]
Dated: November 19, 1998.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-31419 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M