[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65181-65182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31424]


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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 National 
Naval Medical Center (NNMC), Bethesda, Maryland, Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center (WRAMC), Washington, DC. and Malcolm Grow Medical Center 
(MGMC), Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, have been designated as the 
components of a Regional Specialized Treatment Services Facility (STSF) 
for General Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery for TRICARE Region 1. NNMC 
and WRAMC have been designated as the components of a Regional STSF for 
Neurosurgery, Otorhinolaryngology Surgery, and Gynecologic Oncology 
Surgery for TRICARE Region 1. The application for the STSF designation 
for these facilities was submitted by the Lead Agent for TRICARE Region 
1 and approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). 
The Lead Agent will ensure that these facilities maintain the quality 
and standards required for specialized treatment services. The 
designation covers the following Diagnosis Related Groups:
General Surgery
191--Pancreas, Liver and Shunt Procedures with CC
286--Adrenal and Pituitary Procedures (adrenal only)
Orthopedic Surgery
209--Major joint/limb reattachment procedures lower extremity
491--Major joint/limb reattachment procedures upper extremity
Neurosurgery
001--Craniotomy, age greater than 17 except for trauma
003--Craniotomy, age 0-17
004--Spinal procedures
286--Adrenal and pituitary procedures (pituitary only)
Otorhinolaryngology Surgery
049--Major Head and Neck procedures
Gynecologic Oncology Surgery
357--Uterine and Adnexa procedures for Ovarian or Adnexal Malignancy

    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 NNMC, WRAMC, or MGMC in accordance with the provisions 
of the Joint Federal Travel Regulation. DOD beneficiaries who reside in 
the STS catchment area for TRICARE Region 1 must be evaluated by NNMC, 
WRAMC, or MGMC before receiving TRICARE/CHAMPUS cost sharing for 
General Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery procedures that fall under the 
above Diagnosis Related Groups. These Region 1 beneficiaries must be 
evaluated by NNMC or WRAMC before receiving TRICARE/CHAMPUS cost 
sharing for Neurosurgery, Otorhinolaryngology Surgery, and Gynecologic 
Oncology Surgery 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 NNMC, WRAMC, or MGMC. If the procedure cannot be 
performed at NNMC, WRAMC, or MGMC, the facility will provide a medical 
necessity review prior to issuance of a Nonavailability Statement.
    The STS Catchment Area covering TRICARE Region 1 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 1 in the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New 
York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia that fall 
within a 200 mile radius of the midpoint of a line between WRAMC and 
NNMC.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
CDR W. Isley (NNMC) at (301) 295-6195, Ms. Kendra Drew (WRAMC) at (202) 
782-4302, Capt. R. Warwar (MGMC) at (301) 981-2475, CAPT D. Michael 
Jones (TRICARE Region 1 Lead Agent Office) at (202) 782-1483, Lt. Col. 
Teresa Sommese, (TRICARE Management Activity) at (703) 681-3628, 
extension 5029; or Mr. Tariq Shahid, (TRICARE Management Activity) at 
(303) 676-3801.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In FR DOC 93-27050, appearing in the Federal 
Register on November 5, 1993 (Vol. 58,

[[Page 65182]]

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 by 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 19, 1998.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-31424 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M