[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 25, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 28162-28163] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-13113] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); Implementation of Eligibility Requirements in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1999 (Pub. L. 105-261) AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD. ACTION: Notice of Extended TRICARE/CHAMPUS Eligibility for Certain Individuals. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice provides the period of extended TRICARE/CHAMPUS eligibility for certain individuals who are entitled to Medicare but who have not purchased Part B of Medicare. EFFECTIVE DATE: The provisions of this notice are effective October 1, 1998. ADDRESSES: TRICARE Management Activity (TMA), Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Systems, Aurora, CO 80011-9043. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen E. Isaacson, Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Systems, TMA, telephone (303) 676-3572. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Normally, when an individual becomes entitled to Medicare, he/she loses eligibility for TRICARE/CHAMPUS. Individuals who are entitled to Medicare due to disability or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) can continue their TRICARE/CHAMPUS eligibility if they: (1) Are under 65 years of age; and (2) are enrolled in Part B of Medicare. A number of individuals have not been aware of the requirement to enroll in Part B of Medicare and did not enroll. As a result, they ordinarily would not have been eligible for TRICARE/ CHAMPUS. These individuals have been notified of this requirement by the Department of Defense, but in order to ensure TRICARE/CHAMPUS coverage until Medicare Part B coverage takes effect, TRICARE/CHAMPUS eligibility has been extended. The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1998 (Pub. L. 105-174) extended TRICARE/ CHAMPUS eligibility for health services provided from May 1, 1998, through September 30, 1998, For those beneficiaries who enrolled in Medicare Part B prior to March 31, 1998, TRICARE/CHAMPUS eligibility was extended to July 1, 1998. Section 704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1999 (Pub. L. 105-261) further extended TRICARE/CHAMPUS eligibility for those individuals not enrolled in Medicare Part B for health services provided until July 1, 1999. We also want to reiterate previously published provisions regarding recoupment of erroneous payments to these beneficiaries, since it is closely related to these provisions. These recoupment provisions provide relief to beneficiaries who have received erroneous payments but who were not eligible for TRICARE/CHAMPUS under either Pub. L. 105- 174 or Pub. L. 105-261. On May 20, 1998, we published a final rule (63 FR 27677) implementing Section 743 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1996 (Pub. L. 104-106) that waives the collection of certain erroneous TRICARE/CHAMPUS payments made to these individuals. Specifically, it waives collection of TRICARE/CHAMPUS payments made to individuals entitled to Medicare due to disability or ESRD but who have not purchased Medicare Part B. This waiver authority was effective February 10, 1996, and covers the period beginning January 1, 1967, and ends on the later of July 1, 1996, or the termination date of any special Medicare enrollment period established by law for such individuals. We refer the reader to the above-cited Federal Register for more information regarding this provision. [[Page 28163]] Dated: May 19, 1999. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 99-13113 Filed 5-24-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-10-M