TRICARE; Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); Bonus Payments in Medically Underserved Areas

This interim final rule implements a bonus payment, in addition to the amount normally paid under the allowable charge methodology, to providers in medically underserved areas. For purposes of this rule, medically underserved areas are the same as those determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Medicare program. Such bonus payments shall be equal to the bonus payments authorized by Medicare, except as necessary to recognize any unique or distinct characteristics or requirements of the CHAMPUS program, and as described in instructions issued by the Director, OCHAMPUS. Due to the urgency for such bonus payments in medically underserved areas to alleviate problems of access to healthcare coverage caused by lower payments, the interim final rule making process has been utilized. This rule promotes a reimbursement enhancement to a limited number of providers designed to increase CHAMPUS beneficiary access to care, which also supports the use of the interim final rule.