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###### Department of Health and Human Services

###### Health Resources and Services Administration 

# AGENCY:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS. 

# ACTION:

Request for comments on proposed change to the Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses Program Eligibility criteria. 

# SUMMARY:

                        HRSA published the final eligibility guidelines for the Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses Program in the                         **Federal Register**                         on October 5, 2007 (72 FR 57049). A subsequent amendment to the Program guidelines was published in the                         **Federal Register**                         on June 20, 2008 (73 FR 35143). HRSA is requesting public comments concerning recommended changes to a specific section of the reimbursement program eligibility guidelines. On page 35145, under the                         *Qualifying Expenses*                         Section, the first paragraph states:                     

                            For the purposes of the Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses toward Living Organ Donation Program,                             *qualifying expenses*                             presently include only travel, lodging, and meals and incidental expenses incurred by the donor and/or his/her accompanying person(s) as part of:                         

(1) Donor evaluation, clinic visit or hospitalization, 

(2) Hospitalization for the living donor surgical procedure, and/or 

(3) Medical or surgical follow-up clinic visit or hospitalization within 90 days following the living donation procedure.

                        HRSA wishes to amend the first item of this paragraph to read: “(1) Donor evaluation (including, if applicable, clinic visits or hospitalization) and/or”. This is a technical change to clarify that the expenses referred to are all related to the donor evaluation. In addition, HRSA wishes to amend the third item of this paragraph to read: “(3) Medical or surgical follow-up, clinic visits, or hospitalization within 2 calendar years following the living donation procedure (or beyond the 2-year period if exceptional circumstances exist).” This change in the follow-up period would bring the National Living Donor Assistance Center follow-up period in line with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network policy requiring follow-up of living organ donors for a period of 2 years. Adding the exceptional circumstances language at the end of this item would allow reimbursement for post-surgical follow-                              ( print page 9408)                            up beyond the anticipated 2-year period in unusual circumstances.                     

HRSA is requesting your comments on this specific section. 

# DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office in the address section below by mail or e-mail on or before April 3, 2009. 

# ADDRESSES:

                        Please send all written comments to Richard Durbin, Acting Director, Division of Transplantation, Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Room 12C-06, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; telephone (301) 443-7577; fax (301) 594-6095; or e-mail:                         *rdurbin@hrsa.gov*.                     

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Richard Durbin, Acting Director, Division of Transplantation, Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 12C-06, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; telephone (301) 443-7577; fax (301) 594-6095; or e-mail:                         *rdurbin@hrsa.gov*.                     

Dated: February 12, 2009. 

Elizabeth M. Duke, 

Administrator.

 [FR Doc. E9-4519 Filed 3-3-09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4165-15-P