# TRICARE; Elimination of the Non-Availability Statement (NAS) Requirement for Non-Emergency Inpatient Mental Health Care
> **US Department of Defense** · Final rule. · Published 2013-02-26 · Effective 2013-03-28 · 78 FR 12951
## Document
- **Document number:** 2013-03418
- **Category:** personnel
- **Sub-agency:** US Department of Defense
- **Federal Register citation:** 78 FR 12951
- **CFR reference:** 32 CFR 199
- **Publication date:** 2013-02-26
- **Effective date:** 2013-03-28
- **DOD docket:** Docket ID: DOD-2011-HA-0059
## Abstract

This final rule eliminates the requirement that states a NAS is needed for non-emergency inpatient mental health care in order for a TRICARE Standard beneficiary's claim to be paid. Currently, NAS are required for non-emergency inpatient mental health care for TRICARE Standard beneficiaries who live within a military treatment facility catchment area. At this time, the number of NASs issued is negligible as most mental health admissions are emergency admissions. Requiring a NAS for a relatively few non-emergency inpatient mental health admissions is disproportionate to the cost of maintaining the systems necessary to process and coordinate the NAS.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/02/26/2013-03418/tricare-elimination-of-the-non-availability-statement-nas-requirement-for-non-emergency-inpatient)
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