Office of the Secretary August 18, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Homeland Security is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to exempt portions of updated and reissued system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the ``Department of Homeland Security/ALL027 The History of the Department of Homeland Security System of Records'' from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. Specifically, the Department exempts portions of the ``Department of Homeland Security/ALL027 The History of the Department of Homeland Security System of Records'' from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.

The Department is publishing this proposed rule to implement section 704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (NDAA for FY10). Specifically, that legislation expands the survivor eligibility under the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP). The legislation entitles a child or unmarried person placed in legal custody of a member or former member continuation of eligibility for the TDP. The period of continued eligibility for these dependents shall be the longer of the following periods beginning on the date of the member's death: Three years; the period ending on the date on which such dependent attains 21 years of age; or in the case of such dependent who, at 21 years of age, is enrolled in a full-time course of study in a secondary school or in a full-time course of study in an institution of higher education approved by the administering Secretary and was, at the time of the member's death, in fact dependent on the member for over one-half of such dependent's support, the period ending

The Department of Defense is publishing this final rule to provide TRICARE approval for authorizing certified physician assistants and certified nurse practitioners (non-physicians) to engage in referrals of beneficiaries to the Military Health System for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Upon implementation of this provision, certified physician assistants, or certified nurse practitioners will be allowed to issue referrals to patients for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy without having the patient see a physician. This rule will align TRICARE with Medicare's allowance of ``non-physician providers'' to provide, certify, or supervise therapy services.