August 22, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is making a change in its procedures for seeking reimbursement from third-party insurers for certain medical care and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for nonservice-connected disabilities, to add a Medicare- equivalent remittance advice (MRA) as an attachment to each bill for such care and services provided by VA, with the exception of those services noted in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the purpose of this notice is to announce that a Federal Advisory Committee, known as the ``Advisory Committee on Job Corps'' (hereinafter ``the Committee'') is being established.

The Secretary proposes to amend the regulations governing the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) in 34 CFR part 280. These proposed amendments would allow the MSAP to use an approach similar to that in 34 CFR 75.200 for establishing selection criteria in grant competitions. Under this approach the MSAP would have the flexibility to use selection criteria from its program regulations, from the menu of general selection criteria in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR 75.210, based on statutory provisions in accordance with 34 CFR 75.209, or from any combination of these.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Planetary Science Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Subcommittee reports to the Science Committee of the NAC. The Meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting from the scientific community and other persons scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Earth Science Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Subcommittee reports to the Science Committee of the NAC. The Meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting from the scientific community and other persons scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

This proposed rule would implement sections 704 and 705 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. These provisions would apply to eligible family members who become eligible for TRICARE as a result of their Reserve Component (RC) sponsor (including those with delayed effective date orders up to 90 days) being called or ordered to active duty for more than 30 days in support of a federal/contingency operation and choose to participate in TRICARE Standard or Extra, rather than enroll in TRICARE Prime. The first provision would provide the Secretary the authority to waive the annual TRICARE Standard (or Extra) deductible, which is set by law (10 U.S.C. 1079(b)) at $150 per individual and $300 per family ($50/$150 for families of members in pay grades E-4 and below). The second provision would provide the Secretary the authority to increase TRICARE payments up to 115 percent of the TRICARE maximum allowable charge, less the applicable patient cost share if not previously waived under the first provision, for covered outpatient health services received from a provider that does not participate (accept assignment) with TRICARE. These provisions would help ensure timely access to health care and maintain clinically appropriate continuity of health care to family members of Reservists and Guardsmen activated in support of a federal/contingency operation; limit the out-of-pocket health care expenses for those family members; and remove potential barriers to health care access by Guard and Reserve families.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is publishing its final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2006, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The final LOF for 2006 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. NMFS must categorize each commercial fishery on the LOF into one of three categories under the MMPA based upon the level of serious injury and mortality of marine mammals that occurs incidental to each fishery. The categorization of a fishery in the LOF determines whether participants in that fishery are subject to certain provisions of the MMPA, such as registration, observer coverage, and take reduction plan requirements.

This document makes amendments to the Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) to delete any reference to the term ``Organizational Elements'', and to use instead, the term, ``Components'' in accordance with internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) changes. These changes are technical amendments and make no substantive changes to the regulation.

This proposed rule would address certain provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, as well as make other proposed changes to Medicare Part B payment policy. We are proposing these changes to ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services. This proposed rule also discusses geographic practice cost indices (GPCI) changes; requests for additions to the list of telehealth services; payment for covered outpatient drugs and biologicals; payment for renal dialysis services; policies related to private contracts and opt-out; policies related to bone mass measurement services, independent diagnostic testing facilities, the physician self-referral prohibition; laboratory billing for the technical component (TC) of physician pathology services; the clinical laboratory fee schedule; certification of advanced practice nurses; health information technology, and the health care information transparency initiative.