Department of Defense September 28, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of the Army is deleting a system of records notice from its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning the Buy American Act certificate. This information collection requirement collects data for compliance with 41 U.S.C., Buy American. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice is to advise interested parties of a Military Health System demonstration project entitled ``TRICARE Demonstration Project for the Philippines.'' The purpose of this demonstration is to validate an alternative approach to providing healthcare services for those beneficiaries covered under the TRICARE Standard option in the Philippines, controlling costs, eliminating any balance billing issues, and ensuring that the billing practices comply with regulatory requirements. Under this demonstration, the overseas contractor in the Philippines will establish a dedicated list of providers in the Philippines who will file their claims with the contractor and be reimbursed under an established fee schedule. The providers will adhere to the quality of care requirements of the overseas contract. The beneficiaries will have overall lower costs because these providers will no longer require payments at the time of service nor will they subject beneficiaries to balanced billing of charges. Because of the geographic conditions in the Philippines and the realization that providers of the required specialties are not available in all areas, the contractor will not be required to develop a list of providers in all areas. However, in those areas where the contractor is able to develop a sufficient list of providers then all TRICARE Standard beneficiaries residing in those areas of the Philippines will be required to use these providers in order for their claims to be paid. Notice will be provided to the beneficiaries informing them of the areas participating and not participating in this demonstration.