[Federal Register: November 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 227)] [Notices] [Page 65179-65180] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr25no98-57] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary TRICARE; the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); Specialized Treatment Services (STS) Program AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties that St. Joseph Hospital, 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342; The Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425; Tampa General Hospital, Davis Island, P.O. Box 1289, Tampa FL 33601; St. Thomas Hospital, 3401 West End Avenue, Suite 120, Nashville, TN 37203; The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Transplant Center, 102 Mortimer Jordan Hall, 1825 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-2010; Egleston Children's Hospital, 1405 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322-1101; and Jackson Memorial Hospital, 1611 NW 12th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136-1094, have been designated as Regional Specialized Treatment Services Facilities (STSFs) for various Transplant procedures. The application for the STSF designation for these facilities was submitted by the Humana Military Health Services, Inc. (HMHS) in coordination with the Lead Agents for TRICARE Regions 3 and 4 and approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). The HMHS will oversee that these STSFs maintain the quality and standards required for specialized treatment services. This designation covers the following Diagnosis Related Groups: 103--Heart Transplant (Medical University of South Carolina, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Egleston Children's Hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, St. Thomas Hospital, and Tampa General Hospital) 480--Liver Transplants (Medical University of South Carolina, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Egleston Children's Hospital, and Jackson Memorial Hospital) 495--Lung Transplant (University of Alabama-Birmingham) 495--Heart-Lung Transplant (University of Alabama-Birmingham) As part of the STS program within TRICARE Regions 3 and 4, HMHS will assume responsibility for transportation, food and lodging for patients within a radius ranging from over 40 miles and up to 200 miles from designated STS Transplantation Centers. Under this plan, HMHS will reimburse patients the mileage allowance for travel, pay up to the per diem allowed by the government for food and lodging, or the actual cost, whichever is less, and will adjust per diems and mileage allowances according to government regulations. Whenever possible, HMHS will also make lodging arrangements for the patients and one non- medical attendant. [[Page 65180]] DoD beneficiaries who reside in the catchment areas of the designated STS facilities must be evaluated by the appropriate facility prior to receiving TRICARE/CHAMPUS cost sharing for procedures that fall under the above Diagnosis Related Groups. Evaluation in person is preferred, and travel and lodging expenses for the evaluation will be reimbursed as stated above. It may be possible to conduct the evaluation telephonically if the patient is unable to travel to the appropriate facility. If a needed procedure cannot be performed by one of the above facilities, HMHS will provide a medical necessity review prior to issuance of a Nonavailability Statement or other similar authorizations. The Catchment Area for each transplant STS includes zip codes within TRICARE Regions 3 and 4 that fall within a 200 mile radius of the facility. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mancini, Director of Network Development, Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc., 500 West Main St., Louisville, KY 40202, telephone (502) 580-1538; LCDR Leesa Kent, Office of the Lead Agent, TRICARE Region 3, (706) 787-3016; Colonel Joe Taylor, Office of the Lead Agent, TRICARE Region 4, (228) 377-9643; Lt. Col. Teresa Sommese, TRICARE Management Activity, (703) 681-3628, extension 5029; or Mr. Tariq Shahid, TRICARE Management Activity, (303) 676-3801. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In FR DOC 93-27050, appearing in the Federal Register on November 5, 1993 (Vol. 58, FR 58955-58964), the final rule on the STS Program was published. Included in the final rule was a provision that a notice of all military and civilian STS facilities be published in the Federal Register annually. This notice is issued under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 1105 and 32 CFR 199.4(a)(10). Dated: November 19, 1998. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 98-31421 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5000-04-M