# TRICARE; Elimination of Non-Availability Statement and Referral Authorization Requirements and Elimination of Specialized Treatment Services Program
> **US Department of Defense** · Final rule. · Published 2005-04-13 · Effective 2003-12-28 · 70 FR 19263
## Document
- **Document number:** 05-7361
- **Category:** personnel
- **Sub-agency:** US Department of Defense
- **Federal Register citation:** 70 FR 19263
- **CFR reference:** 32 CFR 199
- **Publication date:** 2005-04-13
- **Effective date:** 2003-12-28
## Abstract

This rule implements Section 735 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (NDAA-02) (Pub. L. 107-107). It also implements Section 728 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (NDAA-01) (Pub. L. 106-398). Section 735 of NDAA-02 eliminates the requirement for TRICARE Standard beneficiaries who live within a 40-mile radius of a military medical treatment facility (MTF) to obtain a nonavailability statement (NAS) or preauthorization from an MTF before receiving inpatient care (other than mental health services) or maternity care from a civilian provider in order that TRICARE will cost-share for such services. Section 735 of NDAA-02, however, authorizes the Department of Defense to make exceptions to the elimination of the requirement for a NAS through the exercise of a waiver process under certain specified conditions. This section also eliminates the NAS requirement for specialized treatment services (STSs) for TRICARE Standard beneficiaries who live outside the 200-mile radius of a designated STS facility. This rule portrays the Department's decision to eliminate the STS program entirely. Finally, Section 728 of NDAA-01 requires that prior authorization before referral to a specialty care provider that is part of the contractor network be eliminated under any new TRICARE contract.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/04/13/05-7361/tricare-elimination-of-non-availability-statement-and-referral-authorization-requirements-and)
---
*AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*