[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 17688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8070]



[[Page 17688]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense Health Affairs, 
DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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    In accordance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Health Affairs announces the proposed public information collection and 
seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited 
on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the information collection; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
information collection on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received June 4, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the information 
collection should be sent to TRICARE Management Activity, Medical 
Benefits and Reimbursement Systems, 16401 East Centretech Parkway, 
ATTN: Marty Maxey, Aurora, CO 80011-9066.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection, please write to the above address or 
call TRICARE Management Activity, Medical Benefits and Reimbursement 
Systems, at (303) 676-3627.
    Title of Information Collection: Criteria for TRICARE/CHAMPUS 
Coverage of Organ Transplantation.
    Needs and Uses: TRICARE/CHAMPUS participating hospitals must file a 
narrative application to be approved for coverage and payment of organ 
transplants performed on TRICARE/CHAMPUS beneficiaries.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 100 hours.
    Frequency: Collected at the time of initial application. A facility 
that wishes to obtain TRICARE/CHAMPUS coverage for organ 
transplantation shall submit a narrative application for approval and, 
once approved, report events or changes that would affect its approved 
status.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

    TRICARE Management Activity (TMA), formerly known as OCHAMPUS, is 
in the process of submitting a final rule for publication in the 
Federal Register, clarifying coverage of organ transplants. 32 CFR Part 
199(e)(5) allows coverage for organ transplant procedures provided the 
procedure is in accordance with accepted professional medical standards 
and is not considered unproven. In the case of organ transplantation, 
we believe many other factors are related to the safety and efficacy of 
the transplant. Thus, coverage of organ transplantation requires 
detailed criteria to identify the context in which organ 
transplantation can be considered medically reasonable and necessary. 
The requested information is needed to ensure a hospital meets the 
criteria to qualify for CHAMPUS coverage and payment of transplants 
performed by the facility.
    If a facility is a Medicare approved transplant center, TRICARE/
CHAMPUS recognizes the facility as a TRICARE/CHAMPUS approved center 
for the specific organ for which the facility has received approval. If 
a facility is not Medicare approved, the hospital must provide 
information on patient selection, patient management, commitment, 
facility plans, experience and survival rates, maintenance of data, 
organ procurement, laboratory procedures and billing when it applies to 
TRICARE/CHAMPUS for a coverage determination.
    This notice contains information collection requirements that are 
subject to the Office of Management and Budget approval under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980. The information collection concerns 
the requirement that a facility that wishes to obtain TRICARE/CHAMPUS 
coverage for organ transplantation submit an application for approval 
and, once approved, report events or changes that would affect its 
approved status. Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is expected to be 100 hours.
    There are no strict formats facilities must use in applying for 
coverage. The application is primarily narrative and has no standard 
format.

    Dated: March 22, 2001.
Patricia Toppings,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 01-8070 Filed 4-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-10-W