[Federal Register: November 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 227)] [Notices] [Page 65181-65182] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr25no98-60] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), Bethesda, Maryland, Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Washington, DC. and Malcolm Grow Medical Center (MGMC), Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, have been designated as the components of a Regional Specialized Treatment Services Facility (STSF) for General Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery for TRICARE Region 1. NNMC and WRAMC have been designated as the components of a Regional STSF for Neurosurgery, Otorhinolaryngology Surgery, and Gynecologic Oncology Surgery for TRICARE Region 1. The application for the STSF designation for these facilities was submitted by the Lead Agent for TRICARE Region 1 and approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). The Lead Agent will ensure that these facilities maintain the quality and standards required for specialized treatment services. The designation covers the following Diagnosis Related Groups: General Surgery 191--Pancreas, Liver and Shunt Procedures with CC 286--Adrenal and Pituitary Procedures (adrenal only) Orthopedic Surgery 209--Major joint/limb reattachment procedures lower extremity 491--Major joint/limb reattachment procedures upper extremity Neurosurgery 001--Craniotomy, age greater than 17 except for trauma 003--Craniotomy, age 0-17 004--Spinal procedures 286--Adrenal and pituitary procedures (pituitary only) Otorhinolaryngology Surgery 049--Major Head and Neck procedures Gynecologic Oncology Surgery 357--Uterine and Adnexa procedures for Ovarian or Adnexal Malignancy Travel and lodging for the patient and, if stated to be medically necessary by a referring physician, for one nonmedical attendant, will be reimbursed by NNMC, WRAMC, or MGMC in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Federal Travel Regulation. DOD beneficiaries who reside in the STS catchment area for TRICARE Region 1 must be evaluated by NNMC, WRAMC, or MGMC before receiving TRICARE/CHAMPUS cost sharing for General Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery procedures that fall under the above Diagnosis Related Groups. These Region 1 beneficiaries must be evaluated by NNMC or WRAMC before receiving TRICARE/CHAMPUS cost sharing for Neurosurgery, Otorhinolaryngology Surgery, and Gynecologic Oncology Surgery 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 is possible to conduct the evaluation telephonically if the patient is unable to travel to NNMC, WRAMC, or MGMC. If the procedure cannot be performed at NNMC, WRAMC, or MGMC, the facility will provide a medical necessity review prior to issuance of a Nonavailability Statement. The STS Catchment Area covering TRICARE Region 1 is defined by zip codes in the Defense Medical Information System STS Facilities Catchment Area Directory. The Catchment Area includes zip codes within TRICARE Region 1 in the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia that fall within a 200 mile radius of the midpoint of a line between WRAMC and NNMC. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CDR W. Isley (NNMC) at (301) 295-6195, Ms. Kendra Drew (WRAMC) at (202) 782-4302, Capt. R. Warwar (MGMC) at (301) 981-2475, CAPT D. Michael Jones (TRICARE Region 1 Lead Agent Office) at (202) 782-1483, Lt. Col. Teresa Sommese, (TRICARE Management Activity) at (703) 681-3628, extension 5029; or Mr. Tariq Shahid, (TRICARE Management Activity) at (303) 676-3801. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In FR DOC 93-27050, appearing in the Federal Register on November 5, 1993 (Vol. 58, [[Page 65182]] 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 by 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. 98-31424 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5000-04-M