[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12073-12074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4867]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Extension of Web-Based TRICARE Assistance Program Demonstration 
Program

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of a Two Year Extension of the Web-Based TRICARE 
Assistance Program.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties of an extension to 
the Military Health System (MHS) demonstration project, under authority 
of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1092, entitled Web-Based TRICARE 
Assistance Program. This demonstration was effective August 1, 2009, as 
referenced in the original Federal Register Notice, 74 FR 3667, July 
24, 2009. The demonstration was extended to March 31, 2011, as 
referenced by Federal Register Notice, March 30, 2010. The 
demonstration project uses existing managed care support contracts 
(MCSC) to allow Web-based behavioral health and related services 
including non-medical counseling and advice services to active duty 
service members (ADSM), their families and members and their dependents 
enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select, and those eligible for the 
Transition Assistance Management Program (TAMP) who reside in the 
continental United States. The extension is necessary to allow more 
time to measure the effectiveness of the demonstration in meeting its 
goal of improving beneficiary access to behavioral health care by 
incorporating Web-based technology.

DATES: Effective Date: This extension will be effective April 1, 2011. 
The demonstration project will continue until March 31, 2012.

ADDRESSES: TRICARE Management Activity (TMA), Health Plan Operations, 
5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810, Falls Church, VA 22041.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions pertaining to this 
demonstration project, Mr. Richard Hart, (703) 681-0047.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

a. Background

    On page 431 of the House Appropriations Committee Print 
accompanying H.R. 2638, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act 
for FY 2009, Joint Explanatory Statement, it is noted: ``An area of 
particular interest is the provision of appropriate and accessible 
counseling to service members and their families who live in locations 
that are not close to military treatment facilities, other MHS 
facilities, or TRICARE providers. Web-based delivery of counseling has 
significant potential to offer counseling to personnel who otherwise 
might not be able to access it. Therefore, the Department is directed 
to establish and use a Web-based Clinical Mental Health Services 
Program as a way to deliver critical clinical mental health services to 
service members and families in rural areas.''
    The TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP) demonstration, as outlined 
in 74 FR 3667 July 24, 2009 launched August 1, 2009, to provide the 
capability for short-term, problem solving counseling between eligible 
beneficiaries and licensed counselors utilizing video technology and 
software such as Skype or iChat. Regional contractors were tasked with 
formulating and initiating the programs. TRIAP services are available 
24/7 and ADSMs, their spouses of any age, and other family members 18 
years of age or older who reside in the United States

[[Page 12074]]

are eligible to participate. Enrollees in TRICARE Reserve Select and 
the Transitional Assistance Management Program may also use the 
program. TRIAP provides assistance to beneficiaries dealing with 
personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, 
health, and well-being. It includes assessment, short-term counseling, 
and referrals to more comprehensive levels of care if needed. TRIAP is 
based on commercial employee assistance models and provides counseling 
in a virtual face-to-face environment. There is a no diagnosis made, 
there are no limits to usage, and no notification about those seeking 
counseling will be made to their primary care managers or others, 
unless required by the counselor's licensure (e.g., spouse abuse). 
Participant confidentiality is protected, as no medical record entry is 
made.
    Calls per month to the TRIAP line since the demonstration was 
extended and an aggressive marketing campaign launched have increased 
two fold, however, the majority (89%) of the calls are in the TRICARE 
West Region. In order to re-engage education efforts in the TRICARE 
North and South regions, allow enough time for these efforts to take 
effect and provide enough time to gather adequate data on the 
feasibility of utilizing audio and visual technologies including Web-
based services to our active duty service members, their families and 
other beneficiaries on a permanent basis, an extension of the 
demonstration is necessary.

b. Implementation

    This demonstration extension will be effective April 1, 2011.

c. Evaluation

    As noted in the original Federal Register Notice, 74 FR 3667 July 
24, 2009, and the extension Federal Register Notice, March 30, 2010, an 
independent evaluation of the demonstration will be conducted. It will 
be performed retrospectively and using administrative measures of 
behavioral health care access to provide analyses and comment on the 
effectiveness of the demonstration in meeting its goal of improving 
beneficiary access to behavioral health care by incorporating Web-based 
technology.

    Dated: March 1, 2011.
Morgan F. Park,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2011-4867 Filed 3-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P