[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]


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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 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