[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 227 (Friday, November 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 62289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28355]



[[Page 62289]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Preventive Health Allowance Demonstration Project

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)/TRICARE 
Management Activity, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of a Preventive Health Allowance Demonstration Project.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties of a Military 
Health System (MHS) demonstration project entitled ``Preventive Health 
Allowance Demonstration Project for TRICARE Active Duty Personnel and 
their Family Members''. This demonstration project is designed to 
evaluate the efficacy of providing a preventive health services 
allowance to encourage healthy behaviors on the part of eligible MHS 
beneficiaries.

DATES: Effective Date: This demonstration is effective from December 1, 
2009, until December 31, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Barry Cohen, Director, Healthcare 
Operations-TRICARE Management Activity, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810, 
Falls Church, VA 22041-3206; telephone (703) 681-4029.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Studies have been performed in health organizations to assess the 
effectiveness of waiving co-pays for clinical preventive services, as 
well as financial incentives for healthy behavioral change. No studies 
to date have assessed the effects of providing financial incentives for 
increasing compliance with recommended and, in some instances, mandated 
clinical preventive services in an Active Duty military population. 
This demonstration project will be the first such effort among Active 
Duty military personnel and their family members. The results of this 
demonstration will have a direct impact on the future utility of this 
type of intervention.

B. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2009 
(FY09) Preventive Health Allowance Directive

    Section 714 of the NDAA for FY09 authorizes the Department to 
conduct a demonstration project designed to evaluate the efficacy of 
providing an annual allowance to members of the armed forces to 
increase the use of preventive health services by such members and 
their dependents. To meet eligibility standards to receive this 
benefit, the member of the armed forces must be serving on active duty 
for a period of more than 30 days and meet the medical and dental 
readiness requirements for their branch of service.
    Not more than 1,500 members of each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, 
and Marine Corps may receive a preventive health services allowance 
during any year, of which half in each Service shall be members without 
dependents and half shall be members with dependents. The Secretary of 
the military department concerned shall pay a preventive health 
services allowance to a member selected to receive the allowance in an 
amount equal to $500 per year in the case of a member without 
dependents, and $1,000 per year in the case of a member with 
dependents.

C. Description of Demonstration Project

    The Preventive Health Allowance demonstration project will be 
conducted to evaluate whether a preventive health services allowance 
will increase the utilization of clinical preventive services among 
Active Duty personnel and their family members. Clinical Preventive 
Services, with respect to age and gender-specific recommendations 
included in this study, are screening for colorectal cancer, breast 
cancer, cervical cancer, and prostate cancer; an annual physical exam; 
an annual dental exam; weight and body mass screening; and 
immunizations.
    The TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) will establish the 
methodology, implement the demonstration, and obtain the necessary data 
to evaluate the outcome effectively. There will be 1,500 Active Duty 
members enrolled from each Service, with 750 being single Active Duty 
members, and 750 having family members. The Secretary of the military 
department concerned shall pay the preventive health allowance at the 
rate of $500 or $1,000 per year for single Active Duty members or for 
Active Duty with family members respectively for those in compliance 
with the appropriate clinical preventive services recommendations. The 
selected participants will be provided information regarding the nature 
of the study, their obligations during the study, the incentive that 
can be achieved with compliance and a toll-free telephone number for 
enrollment and/or questions.

D. Evaluation

    An independent evaluation of the demonstration will be conducted. 
The evaluation will be designed to determine whether the provision of a 
preventive health allowance increased the utilization rate of clinical 
preventive services among TRICARE Active Duty personnel and their 
family members.

    Dated: November 19, 2009.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. E9-28355 Filed 11-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P