[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 242 (Friday, December 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 67179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30089]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Notice of an Extension of a TRICARE Demonstration Project for the 
State of Alaska

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

ACTION: Notice of extension of demonstration project.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises interested parties of the extension of a 
Military Health System (MHS) demonstration project entitled ``TRICARE 
Demonstration Project for the State of Alaska.'' The original 
demonstration notice was published on May 18, 2004 (69 FR 28124-28125), 
and described a demonstration project to exempt the underwriting 
provisions for the cost of civilian health care in the State of Alaska 
from the TRICARE managed care support contract for the Western Region. 
The demonstration was to be conducted for up to 5 years after the start 
of health care delivery under the contract and therefore, was scheduled 
to end on March 31, 2009. On February 23, 2009, a notice was published 
in the Federal Register (74 FR 8068-8069) to extend the demonstration 
for 1 additional year. As the rulemaking process has not yet been 
completed, the demonstration project will now be extended for 1 
additional year (March 31, 2011).
    There is no cost impact that is caused by this extension.

DATES: Effective Date: The extension of the demonstration will be 
effective April 1, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael O'Bar, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)--TRICARE Management 
Activity, TRICARE Policy and Operations Directorate, 5111 Leesburg 
Pike, Suite 810, Falls Church, VA 22041-3206; telephone (703) 681-0039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    For additional information on the TRICARE Demonstration Project for 
the State of Alaska, please see 74 FR 8068-8069. The demonstration 
notice focused on the unique situation involved in the delivery of 
health care services in the State of Alaska, which cannot be addressed 
fully by applying all of the at-risk standards that apply to the 
TRICARE managed care support contracts under which services are 
provided in the other 49 States without some modification. Under the 
extended demonstration, the current Western Region managed care support 
contractor will continue to be exempt from the underwriting provisions 
for the cost of civilian health care in the State of Alaska. The 
contractor shall provide all the services required for Alaska as 
specified in the TRICARE Operations Manual, Chapter 23, but will not be 
responsible for the underwriting fee associated with providing those 
services under that chapter. All other provisions contained in the 
TRICARE managed care support contract, TRICARE Operations Manual 
(6010.51-M), TRICARE Policy Manual 6010.54-M), TRICARE Systems Manual 
(7950.1-M), and TRICARE Reimbursement Manual (6010.55-M), shall apply 
in Alaska.

B. Description of Extension of Demonstration Project

    The demonstration project will now be extended for 1 additional 
year (March 31, 2011).

    Dated: December 15, 2009.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. E9-30089 Filed 12-17-09; 8:45 am]
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