```

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53349-53350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17789]

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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

Nationwide TRICARE Demonstration Project

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Defense for Health/TRICARE 
Management Activity, DoD.

ACTION: Notice extending deadline for Demonstration Project.

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

SUMMARY: On November 5, 2001, the Department of Defense (DoD) published 
a notice of a Nationwide TRICARE Demonstration Project (66 FR 55928-
55930). On October 1, 2004, the Department of Defense (DoD) published a 
notice (69 FR 58895) to extend the Demonstration through October 31, 
2005. The Demonstration is also referred to as the Operation Noble 
Eagle/Enduring Freedom Reservist and National Guard Benefits 
Demonstration. This notice is to advise interested parties of the 
continuation of the Demonstration in which the DoD Military Health 
System addresses unreasonable impediments to the continuity of 
healthcare encountered by certain family members of Reservists and 
National Guardsmen called to active duty in support of a federal/
contingency operation. The Demonstration scheduled to end on October 
31, 2005, is now extended through October 31, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of the Assistance Secretary of 
Defense for Health Affairs, TRICARE Management Activity, TRICARE 
Operations Directorate at (703) 681-0039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Continuing levels of about 170,000 Reserve 
Component members activated in support of Noble Eagle/Operation 
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in FY 2005 warrants the 
continuation of the Demonstration to support the healthcare needs and 
morale of family members of activated reservists and guardsmen. The 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2005 amended existing statutes 
that will enable the Secretary of Defense to provide these benefits 
permanently by regulation. The Demonstration needs to be extended to 
provide sufficient time for the rule-making process to establish the 
new regulation. The impact if the Demonstration is not extended, before 
permanent regulation is promulgated, includes higher out-of-pocket 
costs and potential inability to continue to use the same provider for 
ongoing care. There are three separate components to the demonstration. 
First, those who participate in TRICARE Standard will not be 
responsible for paying the TRICARE Standard deductible. By law, the 
TRICARE Standard deductible for active duty dependents is $150 per 
individual, $300 per family ($50/$150 for E-4's and below). The second 
component extends TRICARE payments up to 115 percent of the TRICARE

[[Page 53350]]

maximum allowable charge, less the applicable patient co-payment, for 
care received from a provider that does not participate (accept 
assignment) under TRICARE to the extent necessary to ensure timely 
access to care and clinically appropriate continuity of care. Third, 
the Demonstration authorizes a waiver of the non-availability statement 
requirement for non-emergency inpatient care. This Demonstration 
project is being conducted under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 1092. This 
Demonstration is extended through October 31, 2007.

    Dated: September 1, 2005.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 05-17789 Filed 9-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M
```