Extension of Web-Based TRICARE Assistance Program Demonstration Project, 15693-15694 [2010-7009]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 60 / Tuesday, March 30, 2010 / Notices the current application until the revised application is approved by OMB. The current application is due to expire on November 30, 2010. Type of Review: Renewal. Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service. Title: Learn and Serve America Programs and Performance Reporting System. OMB Number: 3045–0089. Agency Number: None. Affected Public: Learn and Serve America grantees and subgrantees. Total Respondents: Approximately 1,800. Frequency: Annual. Average Time per Response: Averages one hour. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,800 hours. Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None. Total Burden Cost (operating/ maintenance): None. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record. Dated: March 23, 2010. Cara Patrick, Learn and Serve America. [FR Doc. 2010–6955 Filed 3–29–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6050–$$–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Extension of Web-Based TRICARE Assistance Program Demonstration Project Department of Defense (DoD). Notice of a Web-Based TRICARE Assistance Program demonstration project extension. AGENCY: jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties of an extension to the Military Health System (MHS) demonstration project, under authority of Title 10, United States Code, Section 1092, entitled Web-Based TRICARE Assistance Program. This demonstration was effective August 1, 2009, as referenced in the original Federal Register (FR) Notice, 74 FR 3667, dated July 24, 2009. The demonstration project uses existing managed care support contracts (MCSC) to allow Webbased behavioral health and related services, including non-medical counseling and advice services to Active Duty Service members (ADSM), their families, and members and their VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:22 Mar 29, 2010 Jkt 220001 dependents enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select, and those eligible for the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) who reside in the continental United States. The extension is necessary to allow more time to measure the effectiveness of the demonstration in meeting its goal of improving beneficiary access to behavioral health care by incorporating Web-based technology. DATES: This extension will be effective April 1, 2010. The demonstration project will continue until March 31, 2011. ADDRESSES: TRICARE Management Activity (TMA), TRICARE Policy and Operations, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810, Falls Church, VA 22041. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions pertaining to this demonstration project contact Mr. Richard Hart at (703) 681–0047. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On page 405 of House Report 2638, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Joint Explanatory Statement, Congress stated: ‘‘The Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2009 stated: ‘‘An area of particular interest is the provision of appropriate and accessible counseling to Service members and their families who live in locations that are not close to Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), other MHS facilities, or TRICARE providers. Webbased delivery of counseling has significant potential to offer counseling to personnel who otherwise might not be able to access it. Therefore, the Department is directed to establish and use a Web-based Clinical Mental Health Services Program as a way to deliver critical clinical mental health services to Service members and families in rural areas.’’ The TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP) demonstration as outlined in 74 FR 3667 of July 24, 2009, launched August 1, 2009, to provide the capability for short-term, problem solving counseling between eligible beneficiaries and licensed counselors utilizing video technology and software such as Skype or iChat. Regional contractors were tasked with formulating and initiating the programs. TRIAP services are available 24/7. Active Duty Service members, their spouses of any age, and other family members 18 years of age or older, who reside in the United States are eligible to participate. Enrollees in Reserve Select and TAMP also may use the program. TRIAP provides assistance to PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15693 beneficiaries dealing with personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health, and well-being. It includes assessment, short-term counseling, and referrals to more comprehensive levels of care if needed. TRIAP is based on commercial employee assistance models and provides counseling in a virtual face-toface environment. There is no diagnosis made, are no limits to usage, and no notification about those seeking counseling will be made to their primary care managers or others, unless required by the counselor’s licensure (spouse abuse, etc.). Participant confidentiality is protected, as no medical record entry is made. There were initial challenges in making beneficiaries aware of the program when implemented in August 2009. These challenges included: • Short turnaround with behavioral health (BH) programs launching on the same day, both using video, but with distinct differences—one a demonstration (TRIAP), the other a permanent benefit (Telemental Health). • Significant program changes days prior to launch: Age and confidentiality. • The regional contractors implemented the program in admirably short time, but have varying accessibility and visibility. • Primary means of communication with Prime beneficiaries (newsletter) has significant lead time (4 months). • Dozens of ‘‘competing’’ programs already geared to assisting Service members in a similar forum (employee assistance/counseling format) with BH issues, notably Defense Center of Excellence (Psychological Health) and Military OneSource. • Limited research on Service members’ willingness to use video as a means of counseling or their belief in confidentiality. Despite concerted media and outreach effort on the part of regional contractors and extensive media coverage, usage remains very low. In an effort to increase awareness and encourage beneficiary use of TRIAP and TeleBehavioral Health Care Services, TRICARE has launched aggressive external communications initiatives, to include but not limited to: • Article in Prime newsletter (December) delivered to beneficiaries via direct mail. Advance copy sent to 30,000 subscribers. • In production: Leadership video broadening the message to motivate beneficiaries to get help. Includes messages by line spokespersons. Wide distribution to MTFs, installations, and service leadership. • Senior leader talking points. E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1 15694 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 60 / Tuesday, March 30, 2010 / Notices • Updated briefings slide library. • Fact sheet on TRIAP. • Behavioral health flyer updated for 2010: Orders for several hundred thousand in the queue now for distribution by approximately 2,000 points of contact, including the TRICARE Service Centers, Family Support Offices, Wounded Warrior case managers, and nearly 700 Reserve and Guard unit representatives. • Behavioral Resources Guide updated for 2010: Orders for several hundred thousand in the queue now for distribution by approximately 2,000 points of contact including the TRICARE Service Centers, Family Support Offices, Wounded Warrior case managers, and nearly 700 Reserve and Guard unit representatives. • Partnering with Chaplain Corps, all services—new effort. • MHS conference (January 2010)— three breakouts on mental health. • Additional partnering efforts with TMA regions/contractors—MHS conference. In order to allow enough time for marketing efforts to take effect and provide enough time to gather adequate data on the feasibility of utilizing audio and visual technologies, including Webbased services, to our Active Duty Service members, their families and other beneficiaries on a permanent basis, an extension of the demonstration is necessary. Implementation This demonstration extension will be effective April 1, 2010. Evaluation notice in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Federal Advisory Committee; Department of Defense Wage Committee Office of the Secretary, DoD. Notice of closed meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of section 10 of Public Law 92–463, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given that a closed meeting of the Department of Defense Wage Committee will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, at 10 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 1400 Key Boulevard, Level A, Room A101, Rosslyn, Virginia 22209. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning the meetings may be obtained by writing to the Chairman, Department of Defense Wage Committee, 4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301–4000. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of section 10(d) of Public Law 92–463, the Department of Defense has determined that the meeting meets the criteria to close meetings to the public because the matters to be considered are related to internal rules and practices of the Department of Defense and the detailed wage data to be considered were obtained from officials of private establishments with a guarantee that the data will be held in confidence. However, members of the public who may wish to do so are invited to submit material in writing to the chairman concerning matters believed to be deserving of the Committee’s attention. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES As noted in the original FR Notice, 74 FR 3667, July 24, 2009, an independent evaluation of the demonstration will be conducted. It will be performed retrospectively and use a combination of administrative measures of behavioral health care access to provide analysis and comment on the effectiveness of the demonstration in meeting its goal of improving beneficiary access to behavioral health care by incorporating Web-based technology. Dated: March 24, 2010. Mitchell S. Bryman, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. Dated: March 25, 2010. Mitchell S. Bryman, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 16:22 Mar 29, 2010 BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [Docket ID: DOD–2010–OS–0035] ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by dock number and title, by any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301–1160. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jody Sinkler at (703) 767–5045. The Defense Logistics Agency systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the Federal Register and are available from the Chief Privacy and FOIA Officer, Headquarters Defense Logistics Agency, ATTN: DGA, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 1644, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060–6221. The Defense Logistics Agency proposes to delete a system of records notice from its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. The proposed deletion is not within the purview of subsection (r) of the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, which requires the submission of a new or altered system report. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: March 25, 2010. Mitchell S. Bryman, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. DELETION: Jkt 220001 Defense Logistics Agency, DoD. ACTION: Notice to delete a system of records. S700.10 SUMMARY: The Defense Logistics Agency proposes to delete a system of records [FR Doc. 2010–7009 Filed 3–29–10; 8:45 am] VerDate Nov<24>2008 [FR Doc. 2010–7011 Filed 3–29–10; 8:45 am] DATES: This proposed action will be effective without further notice on April 29, 2010 unless comments are received which result in a contrary determination. Travel Input Records (September 4, 2007; 72 FR 50666). AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SYSTEM NAME: E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15693-15694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7009]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Extension of Web-Based TRICARE Assistance Program Demonstration 
Project

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice of a Web-Based TRICARE Assistance Program demonstration 
project extension.

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

SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties of an extension to 
the Military Health System (MHS) demonstration project, under authority 
of Title 10, United States Code, Section 1092, entitled Web-Based 
TRICARE Assistance Program. This demonstration was effective August 1, 
2009, as referenced in the original Federal Register (FR) Notice, 74 FR 
3667, dated July 24, 2009. The demonstration project uses existing 
managed care support contracts (MCSC) to allow Web-based behavioral 
health and related services, including non-medical counseling and 
advice services to Active Duty Service members (ADSM), their families, 
and members and their dependents enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select, 
and those eligible for the Transitional Assistance Management Program 
(TAMP) who reside in the continental United States. The extension is 
necessary to allow more time to measure the effectiveness of the 
demonstration in meeting its goal of improving beneficiary access to 
behavioral health care by incorporating Web-based technology.

DATES: This extension will be effective April 1, 2010. The 
demonstration project will continue until March 31, 2011.

ADDRESSES: TRICARE Management Activity (TMA), TRICARE Policy and 
Operations, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810, Falls Church, VA 22041.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions pertaining to this 
demonstration project contact Mr. Richard Hart at (703) 681-0047.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On page 405 of House Report 2638, the Department of Defense 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Joint Explanatory 
Statement, Congress stated: ``The Department of Defense Appropriations 
Act for Fiscal Year 2009 stated: ``An area of particular interest is 
the provision of appropriate and accessible counseling to Service 
members and their families who live in locations that are not close to 
Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), other MHS facilities, or TRICARE 
providers. Web-based delivery of counseling has significant potential 
to offer counseling to personnel who otherwise might not be able to 
access it. Therefore, the Department is directed to establish and use a 
Web-based Clinical Mental Health Services Program as a way to deliver 
critical clinical mental health services to Service members and 
families in rural areas.''
    The TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP) demonstration as outlined in 
74 FR 3667 of July 24, 2009, launched August 1, 2009, to provide the 
capability for short-term, problem solving counseling between eligible 
beneficiaries and licensed counselors utilizing video technology and 
software such as Skype or iChat. Regional contractors were tasked with 
formulating and initiating the programs. TRIAP services are available 
24/7. Active Duty Service members, their spouses of any age, and other 
family members 18 years of age or older, who reside in the United 
States are eligible to participate. Enrollees in Reserve Select and 
TAMP also may use the program. TRIAP provides assistance to 
beneficiaries dealing with personal problems that might adversely 
impact their work performance, health, and well-being. It includes 
assessment, short-term counseling, and referrals to more comprehensive 
levels of care if needed. TRIAP is based on commercial employee 
assistance models and provides counseling in a virtual face-to-face 
environment. There is no diagnosis made, are no limits to usage, and no 
notification about those seeking counseling will be made to their 
primary care managers or others, unless required by the counselor's 
licensure (spouse abuse, etc.). Participant confidentiality is 
protected, as no medical record entry is made.
    There were initial challenges in making beneficiaries aware of the 
program when implemented in August 2009. These challenges included:
     Short turnaround with behavioral health (BH) programs 
launching on the same day, both using video, but with distinct 
differences--one a demonstration (TRIAP), the other a permanent benefit 
(Telemental Health).
     Significant program changes days prior to launch: Age and 
confidentiality.
     The regional contractors implemented the program in 
admirably short time, but have varying accessibility and visibility.
     Primary means of communication with Prime beneficiaries 
(newsletter) has significant lead time (4 months).
     Dozens of ``competing'' programs already geared to 
assisting Service members in a similar forum (employee assistance/
counseling format) with BH issues, notably Defense Center of Excellence 
(Psychological Health) and Military OneSource.
     Limited research on Service members' willingness to use 
video as a means of counseling or their belief in confidentiality.
    Despite concerted media and outreach effort on the part of regional 
contractors and extensive media coverage, usage remains very low. In an 
effort to increase awareness and encourage beneficiary use of TRIAP and 
Tele-Behavioral Health Care Services, TRICARE has launched aggressive 
external communications initiatives, to include but not limited to:
     Article in Prime newsletter (December) delivered to 
beneficiaries via direct mail. Advance copy sent to 30,000 subscribers.
     In production: Leadership video broadening the message to 
motivate beneficiaries to get help. Includes messages by line 
spokespersons. Wide distribution to MTFs, installations, and service 
leadership.
     Senior leader talking points.

[[Page 15694]]

     Updated briefings slide library.
     Fact sheet on TRIAP.
     Behavioral health flyer updated for 2010: Orders for 
several hundred thousand in the queue now for distribution by 
approximately 2,000 points of contact, including the TRICARE Service 
Centers, Family Support Offices, Wounded Warrior case managers, and 
nearly 700 Reserve and Guard unit representatives.
     Behavioral Resources Guide updated for 2010: Orders for 
several hundred thousand in the queue now for distribution by 
approximately 2,000 points of contact including the TRICARE Service 
Centers, Family Support Offices, Wounded Warrior case managers, and 
nearly 700 Reserve and Guard unit representatives.
     Partnering with Chaplain Corps, all services--new effort.
     MHS conference (January 2010)--three breakouts on mental 
health.
     Additional partnering efforts with TMA regions/
contractors--MHS conference.
    In order to allow enough time for marketing efforts to take effect 
and provide enough time to gather adequate data on the feasibility of 
utilizing audio and visual technologies, including Web-based services, 
to our Active Duty Service members, their families and other 
beneficiaries on a permanent basis, an extension of the demonstration 
is necessary.

Implementation

    This demonstration extension will be effective April 1, 2010.

Evaluation

    As noted in the original FR Notice, 74 FR 3667, July 24, 2009, an 
independent evaluation of the demonstration will be conducted. It will 
be performed retrospectively and use a combination of administrative 
measures of behavioral health care access to provide analysis and 
comment on the effectiveness of the demonstration in meeting its goal 
of improving beneficiary access to behavioral health care by 
incorporating Web-based technology.

    Dated: March 25, 2010.
Mitchell S. Bryman,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2010-7009 Filed 3-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P
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