[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 36651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17849]



[[Page 36651]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

32 CFR Part 199

RIN 0720-AA48


Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services 
(CHAMPUS); TRICARE Prime Enrollment Procedures

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOD.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This proposed rule modifies the TRICARE Prime enrollment for 
active duty families by specifying that the enrollment period is 
continuous rather than a 12 month enrollment period and it allows 
monthly installment payments of enrollment fees for those beneficiaries 
required to pay an annual fee in order to enroll in TRICARE Prime. 
These modifications are being made because TRICARE will soon be 
available wordwide for active duty family members.

DATES: Public comments must be received by September 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Forward comments to: TRICARE Support Office (TSO), Program 
Development Branch, Aurora, CO 80045-6900.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathleen Larkin, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health 
Affairs), telephone (703) 681-1742.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Proposed Changes Regarding The TRICARE Prime Enrollment Period

    This proposes a change to the TRICARE Prime enrollment period from 
a 12-month enrollment period to continuous enrollment until such time 
as the enrollee opts to disenroll from TRICARE Prime. TRICARE Prime was 
originally designed so that enrollees would be required to take 
positive action to continue their enrollment in TRICARE Prime at or 
before their 12-month anniversary date. Positive action to reenroll was 
required because TRICARE implementation was not available in all 
regions of the country and overseas locations. Now the TRICARE will 
soon be available worldwide for active duty family members, the 
requirement that beneficiaries must take positive steps to remain 
enrolled is not longer necessary. The proposed rule allows the enrollee 
to remain enrolled in TRICARE Prime until the enrollee takes positive 
steps to disenroll from TRICARE Prime, or is no longer eligible for 
TRICARE Prime.

II. Proposed Change to Installment Payments of Enrollment Fees

    When we first instituted the requirement for annual TRICARE Prime 
enrollment fees for certain beneficiary categories, we allowed for 
quarterly installment payments of the enrollment fees. In keeping with 
the nature of continuous enrollment, retirees, their families, and 
other beneficiaries required to pay an annual enrollment fee will be 
offered additional flexibility in fee payment by allowing for monthly 
installment payments of enrollment fees.

III. Regulatory Procedures

    Executive Order 12866 requires certain regulatory assessments for 
any significant regulatory action, defined as one which would result in 
an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or have other 
substantial impacts.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires that each federal 
agency prepare, and make available for public comment, a regulatory 
flexibility analysis when the agency issues a regulation which would 
have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    This is not a significant regulatory action under the provisions of 
Executive Order 12866, and it would not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    The proposed rule will not impose additional information collection 
requirements on the public under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 55).
    Public comments are invited. All comments will be carefully 
considered. A discussion of the major issues received by public 
comments will be included with the issuance of the permanent final 
rule, anticipated approximately 60 days after the end of the comment 
period.

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 199

    Administrative practice and procedures, Claims, Fraud, Health care, 
Health insurance, Individuals with disabilities, Military personnel, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, 32 CFR part 199 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 199--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 199 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 10 U.S.C. chapter 55.

    2. Section 199.17 is proposed to be amended by revising paragraphs 
(o)(2) and (o)(3), redesignating paragraphs (o)(4) and (o)(5) as 
paragraphs (o)(5) and (o)(6), respectively, and adding a new paragraph 
(o)(4) to read as follows:


Sec. 199.17  TRICARE program.

* * * * *
    (o) TRICARE program enrollment procedures. * * *
    (2) Enrollment period. Beneficiaries who select the TRICARE Prime 
option remain enrolled in TRICARE Prime until they take action to 
disenroll, are no longer eligible for enrollment in TRICARE Prime, or 
for failure to pay required enrollment fees. There is no minimum length 
of time an enrollee must remain enrolled in TRICARE Prime before they 
are eligible to disenroll. Disenrollment for failure to pay enrollment 
fees is outlined in paragraph (o)(3) of this section.
    (3) Installment payments of enrollment fee. The enrollment fee 
required by Sec. 199.18(c) may be paid in monthly or quarterly 
installments. For beneficiaries paying enrollment fees on an 
installment basis, failure to make a required installment payment on a 
timely basis (including a grace period, as determined by the Director, 
(CHAMPUS) will result in termination of the beneficiary's enrollment in 
Prime and disqualification from future enrollment in Prime for a period 
of one year.
    (4) Disenrollment. Any beneficiary for whom enrollment in Prime is 
voluntary may disenroll at any time. Disenrollment will take effect in 
accordance with administrative procedures established by the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) or his or her designee. 
Beneficiaries who disenroll will not be eligible to reenroll in Prime 
for a one year period from the effective date of the disenrollment. 
This one year exclusion may be waived by the Assistant Secretary of 
Defense (Health Affairs) or his or her designee based on extraordinary 
circumstances.
* * * * *
    Dated: June 30, 1998.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-17849 Filed 7-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M