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| Specialized Treatment Services |
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Walter Reed Army Medical Center proudly continues its designation by the Department of Defense as a
Specialized Treatment Services (STS) facility. The award of STS status is based upon clinical
excellence, exceptional medical outcomes, and conservation of resources in areas of high-risk
complicated medical care. In all its STS areas, Walter Reed?s clinical outcomes match or exceed
those in top-ranked civilian medical centers.
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STS designation relates to specific kinds of care, defined by Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) and
Current Procedural Terminology (CPTs). For example, a hepatectomy (excision of all or part of the
liver) is an STS at Walter Reed under General Surgery; its DRG is 191 and its CPTs are 47120-47130.
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Each STS has a pre-defined catchment area which is either national, multiregional (Category I or
Category II), or regional (see below).
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TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who live within a catchment area for STS care are expected to use
the military STS hospital for that STS care. For example, a TRICARE-eligible military beneficiary
who needs a hepatectomy (a regional STS) will come either to Walter Reed, to Malcolm Grow Medical
Center at Andrews Air Force Base, or to National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda for the surgery.
All three hospitals are STS facilities for hepatectomy.
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In order for the patient to use a civilian facility for that hepatectomy, he or she would have to
obtain a release from the STS hospital. Non-Prime patients have to obtain a Non-Availability Statement
(NAS) for TRICARE cost-sharing, or if they carry other health insurance as primary payer, then
authorization from a TRICARE Health Care Finder. Prime patients have to get a referral from the
Primary Care Manager and an authorization from the TRICARE Health Care Finder, or if they also
carry other health insurance which is primary payer, only an authorization from a TRICARE Health
Care Finder.
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STS patients are treated at STS military hospitals at no cost to themselves beyond the daily per diem
charges for an inpatient stay in a military hospital. The government also pays the cost of travel and
lodging for one non-medical attendant to accompany each STS patient.
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Once an eligible patient has been identified as needing STS care provided at Walter Reed or some other
STS military hospital, the patient?s physician contacts either a Sierra Health Care Finder at
1-888-999-5195 or a Health Benefits Adviser (HBA) in the STS facility as a starting point for
information and assistance. The HBAs at Walter Reed work in the Patient Service Center on the
third floor of the main hospital and can be reached at 202-782-4393.
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Walter Reed's separate STSs are listed below along with the pre-defined catchment area for each
service. MR-I refers to patients residing at zip codes within a 200-mile radius from the NCA within
TRICARE Regions 1 and 2); MR-II refers patients residing at any zip code within Regions 1,2,
and 5; N refers to National (applying to patients residing at zip codes within the 48 continental
United States); and R refers to Regional (applying to patients residing at zip codes within a
200-mile radius from the NCA within TRICARE Region 1).
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Walter Reed Army Medical Center - Special Treament Services
- Liver Transplantation (MR-I)
- Kidney Transplantation (N)
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Walter Reed in partnership with National Naval Medical Center
- Cardio-Vascular Surgery (MR-II)
- Neurosurgery (R)
- Otolaryngology (R)
- Gynecology / Oncology (R)
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Walter Reed in partnership with National Naval Medical Center and Malcolm Grow United States
Air Force Medical Center
- Orthopedic Surgery (R)
- General Surgery (R)
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