Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 227 / Friday, November 24, 2000 / Notices 70555

I. Medicare PPS Changes Which Affect

the TRICARE/CHAMPUS DRG-Based

Payment System

Following is a discussion of the

changes the Health Care Financing

Administration (HCFA) has made to the

Medicare PPS that affect the TRICARE/

CHAMPUS DRG-based payment system.

A. DRG Classifications

Under both the Medicare PPS and the

TRICARE/CHAMPUS DRG-based

payment system, cases are classified

into the appropriate DRG by a Grouper

program. The Grouper classifies each

case into a DRG on the basis of the

diagnosis and procedure codes and

demographic information (that is, sex,

age, and discharge status). The Grouper

used for the TRICARE/CHAMPUS DRGbased payment system is the same as the

current Medicare Grouper with two

modifications. The TRICARE/

CHAMPUS system has replaced

Medicare DRG 435 with two age-based

DRGs (900 and 901), and has

implemented thirty-four (34) neonatal

DRGs in place of Medicare DRGs 385

through 390. For admissions occurring

on or after October 1, 1995, the

CHAMPUS grouper hierarchy logic was

changed so the age split (age <29 days)

and assignments to MDC 15 occur

before assignment of the PreMDC DRGs.

This resulted in all neonate

tracheostomies and organ tranplants to

be grouped to MDC 15 and not to DRGs

480–483 or 495. For admissions

occurring on or after October 1, 1998,

the CHAMPUS grouper hierarchy logic

was changed to move DRG 103 to the

PreMDC DRGs and to assign patients to

PreMDC DRGs 480, 103 and 495 before

assignment to MDC 15 DRGs and the

neonatal DRGs.

For FY 2001, HCFA will implement

classification changes, including

surgical hierarchy changes. The

CHAMPUS Grouper will incorporate all

changes made to the Medicare Grouper.

B. Wage Index and Medicare

Geographic Classification Review Board

Guidelines

TRICARE/CHAMPUS will continue to

use the same wage index amounts used

for the Medicare PPS. In addition,

TRICARE/CHAMPUS will duplicate all

changes with regard to the wage index

for specific hospitals that are

redesignated by the Medicare

Geographic Classification Review Board.

C. Hospital Market Basket

TRICARE/CHAMPUS will update the

adjusted standardized amounts

according to the final updated hospital

market basket used for the Medicare

PPS according to HCFA’s August 1,

2000, final rule.

D. Outlier Payments

Since TRICARE/CHAMPUS does not

include capital payments in our DRGbased payments, we will use the fixed

loss cost outlier threshold calculated by

HFCA for paying cost outliers in the

absence of capital prospective

payments. For FY 2001, the fixed loss

cost outlier threshold is based on the

sum of the applicable DRG-based

payment rate plus any amounts payable

for IDME plus a fixed dollar amount.

Thus, for FY 2001, in order for a case

to qualify for cost outlier payments, the

costs must exceed the TRICARE/

CHAMPUS DRG base payment rate

(wage adjusted) for the DRG plus the

IDME payment plus $16,036 (wage

adjusted). The marginal cost factor for

cost outliers continues to be 80 percent.

E. Blood Clotting Factor

For FY 2001, TRICARE/CHAMPUS

will use the following HCPCS codes and

payment rates for blood clotting factors:

J7190 Factor VIII (antihemophilic

factor—human): $0.85 per unit

J7191 Factor VIII (antihemophilic

factor—porcine): 2.09 per unit

J7192 Factor VIII (antihemophilic

factor—recombinant): 1.12 per unit

J7194 Factor IX (complex): 0.31 per unit

J7198 Anti-inhibitor: 1.43 per unit

Q0160 Factor IX (antihemophilic factor,

purified, Non-recombinant): 1.05

per unit

Q0161 Factor IX (antihemophilic factor,

recombinant): 1.12 per unit

F. Indirect Medical Education (IDME)

Adjustment

The Balanced Budget Refinement Act

of 1999, modified the transition for the

IDME adjustment that was established

by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

The new multiplier for the IDME

adjustment factor for TRICARE/

CHAMPUS for FY 2001 is 1.16.

II. Cost to Charge Ratio

For FY 2001, the cost-to-charge ratio

used for the TRICARE/CHAMPUS DRGbased payment system will be 0.5353,

which is increased to 0.5408 to account

for bad debts. This shall be used to

calculate the adjusted standardized

amounts and to calculate cost outlier

payments, except for children’s

hospitals. For children’s hospital cost

outliers, the cost-to-charge ratio used is

0.5913.

III. Updated Rates and Weights

The updated rates and weights are

accessible through the Internet at

www.tricare.osd.mil under the heading

TRICARE Provider Information. Table 1

provides the ASA rates and Table 2

provides the DRG weights to be used

under the TRICARE/CHAMPUS DRGbased payment system during FY 2001

and which is a result of the changes

described above. The implementing

regulations for the TRICARE/CHAMPUS

DRUG-based payment system are in 32

CFR part 199.

Dated: November 16, 2000.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 00–29935 Filed 11–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5001–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

Defense Science Board Task Force on

Improving Fuel Efficiency of Weapons

Platforms; Notice of Meeting

SUMMARY: The Defense Science Board

Task Force on Improving Fuel

Efficiency of Weapons Platforms will

meet in closed session on November 15–

16, 2000, at the Institute for Defense

Analyses, 1801 N. Beauregard Street,

Alexandria, VA 22311–1772.

The mission of the Defense Science

Board is to advise the Secretary of

Defense and the Under Secretary of

Defense for Acquisition and Technology

on scientific and technical matters as

they affect the perceived needs of the

Department of Defense. At this meeting,

the Task Force will review fuel-efficient

technologies, including new or

improved fuels, engines, Alternative

Fueled Vehicles, and other advanced

technologies and assess their

operational, logistical, cost, and

environmental impacts for a range of

practical implementation scenarios.

Due to critical mission requirements,

there is insufficient time to provide

timely notice required by Section

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act and Subsection 101–

6.1015(b) of the GSA Final Rule on

Federal Advisory Committee

Management, 41 CFR part 101–6, which

further requires publication at least 15

calendar days prior to the meeting of the

Task Force on November 15–16, 2000.

Persons interested in further

information should call Commander

Brian D. Hughes, USN, at (703) 695–

4157.

70556 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 227 / Friday, November 24, 2000 / Notices

Dated: November 16, 2000.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 00–29932 Filed 11–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5001–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

Defense Science Board; Notice of

advisory committee meeting

SUMMARY: The Defense Science Board

(DB) Task Force on Systems Technology

for the Future U.S. Strategic Posture will

meet in closed session on December 14–

15, 2000; January 10–11, 2001; February

14–15, 2001; March 14–15, 2001; April

11–12, 2001; May 16–17, 2001; and June

13–14, 2001. All meetings will be held

at Strategic Analysis Inc., 3601 Wilson

Boulevard, 6th Floor, Arlington, VA

22202. This Task Force will review the

likely nature and evolution of potential

future strategic challenges to the U.S.,

advanced technologies for nuclear

weapons systems and non-nuclear

strategic weapons systems, and

advanced C4ISR technology

applications for strategic contingencies.

The mission of the Defense Science

Board is to advise the Secretary of

Defense and the Under Secretary of

Defense for Acquisition, Technology &

Logistics on scientific and technical

matters as they affect the perceived

needs of the Department of Defense. At

these meetings, the Defense Science

Board Task Force will consider the

extent to which technologies and

systems currently being developed and

applied for regional contingencies are

relevant and applicable to future

strategic contingencies; take into

account affordability and arms control

constraints; look at possible further

future ballistic missile defense

technology to the extent that ballistic

missile defense relates to the overall

future strategic posture; and consider

strategies for using the national strategic

technology base to deal with, or hedge

against, the uncertainties and

ambiguities inherent in the nature and

timing of emergence of possible strategic

threats, including possible dissuasion of

such threats; and, consider the

capability of the technology and

industrial base to respond in time to

long-term strategic warning in various

forms, including the adequacy and

responsiveness of DoD’s science and

technology programs.

In accordance with Section 10(d) of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act,

Public Law 92–463, as amended (5

U.S.C. App. II, (1994)), it has been

determined that these Defense Science

Board meetings concern matters listed

in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1)(1994), and that

accordingly these meetings will be

closed to the public.

Dated: November 16, 2000.

L. M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 00–29933 Filed 11–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5001–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

Defense Science Board Task Force on

Logistics Transformation Phase II;

Notice of Meeting

SUMMARY: The Defense Science Board

Task Force on Logistics Transformation

Phase II was held in closed session on

November 15–16, 2000, at SAIC, 4001

N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 500, Arlington,

VA 22203.

The mission of the Defense Science

Board is to advise the Secretary of

Defense and the Under Secretary of

Defense for Acquisition and Technology

on scientific and technical matters as

they affect the perceived needs of the

Department of Defense. At this meeting,

the Task Force will review and evaluate

DoD’s progress on the transformation of

the DoD logistics system. In addition,

the Task Force will review future plans

and programs to determine their

compliance with the recommendations

contained in the 1998 DSB report on

DoD Logistics Transformation;

determine the nature of barriers

inhibiting the rapid transformation of

the system, paying particular attention

to technical, legal, and operational

issues; and determining if any future

implementation actions are required.

Due to critical mission requirements,

there is insufficient time to provide

timely notice required by Section

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act and Subsection 101–

6.1015(b) of the GSA Final Rule on

Federal Advisory Committee

Management, 41 CFR Part 101–6, which

further requires publication at least 15

calendar days prior to the meeting of the

Task Force on November 15–16, 2000.

Persons interested in further

information should call Commander

Brian D. Hughes, USN, at (703) 695–

4157.

Dated: November 16, 2000.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 00–29934 Filed 11–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5001–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Army Science Board; Notice of Open

Meeting

In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act,

(Public Law 92–463), an announcement

is made of the following Committee

Meeting:

Name of Committee: Army Science Board

(ASB).

Date of Meeting: 4–5 December 2000.

Place of Meeting: Hilton Hotel, Crystal

City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, VA 22202.

Agenda: The ASB will meet for the first of

three Plenary Meetings to discuss ongoing

studies, plan forthcoming studies and will

receive presentations regarding major Army

initiatives and issues. These meetings will be

open to the public. Any interested person

may attend, appear before, or file statements

with the committee at the time and in the

manner permitted by the committee. For

further information, please contact Mike

Hendricks at (703) 617–7048.

Wayne Joyner,

Executive Assistant, ASB.

[FR Doc. 00–29974 Filed 11–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–38–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Mandatory Utilization of Powertrack

Requirement

AGENCY: Military Traffic Management

Command, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Military Traffic

Management Command (MTMC), as the

Department of Defense (DOD) Traffic

Manager for surface and surface

intermodal freight traffic management,

hereby announces the mandatory use of

USBank’s Powertrack system as the

transportation transaction and payment

system for all air (includes small

package express), barge, pipeline, rail

and sealift freight carriers, and

Guaranteed Traffic carriers,

participating in the transport of DOD

freight traffic.

DATES: November 30, 2000, for air

(includes small package express), barge,

pipeline, rail and sealift carriers, and