[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9407-9408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4519]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses Toward Living 
Organ Donation Eligibility Guidelines

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.

ACTION: Request for comments on proposed change to the Reimbursement of 
Travel and Subsistence Expenses Program Eligibility criteria.

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SUMMARY: HRSA published the final eligibility guidelines for the 
Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses Program in the Federal 
Register on October 5, 2007 (72 FR 57049). A subsequent amendment to 
the Program guidelines was published in the Federal Register on June 
20, 2008 (73 FR 35143). HRSA is requesting public comments concerning 
recommended changes to a specific section of the reimbursement program 
eligibility guidelines. On page 35145, under the Qualifying Expenses 
Section, the first paragraph states:

    For the purposes of the Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence 
Expenses toward Living Organ Donation Program, qualifying expenses 
presently include only travel, lodging, and meals and incidental 
expenses incurred by the donor and/or his/her accompanying person(s) 
as part of:
    (1) Donor evaluation, clinic visit or hospitalization,
    (2) Hospitalization for the living donor surgical procedure, 
and/or
    (3) Medical or surgical follow-up clinic visit or 
hospitalization within 90 days following the living donation 
procedure.

    HRSA wishes to amend the first item of this paragraph to read: 
``(1) Donor evaluation (including, if applicable, clinic visits or 
hospitalization) and/or''. This is a technical change to clarify that 
the expenses referred to are all related to the donor evaluation. In 
addition, HRSA wishes to amend the third item of this paragraph to 
read: ``(3) Medical or surgical follow-up, clinic visits, or 
hospitalization within 2 calendar years following the living donation 
procedure (or beyond the 2-year period if exceptional circumstances 
exist).'' This change in the follow-up period would bring the National 
Living Donor Assistance Center follow-up period in line with the Organ 
Procurement and Transplantation Network policy requiring follow-up of 
living organ donors for a period of 2 years. Adding the exceptional 
circumstances language at the end of this item would allow 
reimbursement for post-surgical follow-

[[Page 9408]]

up beyond the anticipated 2-year period in unusual circumstances.
    HRSA is requesting your comments on this specific section.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office in the address 
section below by mail or e-mail on or before April 3, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Please send all written comments to Richard Durbin, Acting 
Director, Division of Transplantation, Healthcare Systems Bureau, 
Health Resources and Services Administration, Room 12C-06, Parklawn 
Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; telephone (301) 
443-7577; fax (301) 594-6095; or e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Durbin, Acting Director, 
Division of Transplantation, Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 12C-06, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; telephone (301) 443-7577; 
fax (301) 594-6095; or e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: February 12, 2009.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E9-4519 Filed 3-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P