[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 13870] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-7328] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 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 Keesler Medical Center has been designated as a Regional Specialized Treatment Services (STS) Facility for Cardiac Surgery for TRICARE Region 4. This designation covers the following Diagnosis Related Groups: 104--Cardiac valve procedure with cardiac cath 105--Cardiac valve procedure without cardiac cath 106--Coronary bypass with cardiac cath 107--Coronary bypass without cardiac cath 108--Other cardiothoracic procedures 110--Major cardiovascular procedures with cardiac cath 111--Major cardiovascular procedures without cardiac cath 112--Percutaneous cardiovascular procedures 124--Circulatory diseases except acute myocardial infarction, with cardiac cath and complex diagnoses 125--Circulatory diseases except acute myocardial infarction, with cardiac cath without complex diagnoses 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 Keesler Medical Center in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Federal Travel Regulation. All DoD beneficiaries who reside in the Regional STS Catchment Area for TRICARE Region 4 must be evaluated by Keesler Medical Center before receiving 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 is possible to conduct the evaluation telephonically if the patient is unable to travel to Keesler Medical Center. If the procedure cannot be performed at Keesler Medical Center, the facility will provide a medical necessity review in order to support issuance of a Nonavailability Statement. The Regional STS Catchment Area covering TRICARE Region 4 is defined by zip code in the Defense Medical Information System STS Facilities Catchment Area Directory. The Catchment Area includes zip codes within TRICARE Region 4 that fall within a 200 mile radius of Keesler Medical Center. EFFECTIVE DATE: June 1, 1997. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Colonel Ellen Lewis, Keesler Medical Center, at (601) 377-9627, or Captain Margaret Orcutt, OSD (Health Affairs), at (703) 695-6800. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In FR Doc. 93-27050, appearing in the Federal Register on November 5, 1993 (Vol. 58, FR 58995-58964), 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. Dated: March 19, 1997. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 97-7328 Filed 3-21-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5000-04-M