98-23694. Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Medically Underserved Areas for 1999

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 47046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23694]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Medically Underserved 
Areas for 1999

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice of Medically Underserved Areas for 1999.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management has completed its annual 
calculation of the States that qualify as Medically Underserved Areas 
under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program for the 
calendar year 1999. This is necessary to comply with a provision of 
FEHB law that mandates special consideration for enrollees of certain 
FEHB plans who receive covered health services in states with critical 
shortages of primary care physicians. Accordingly, for calendar year 
1999, OPM's calculations show that the following States are Medically 
Underserved Areas under the FEHB Program: Alabama, Idaho, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, 
and Wyoming. West Virginia has been removed from the 1998 list, and 
Idaho and North Dakota have been added.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth A. Lease, 202-606-0004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEHB law [5 U.S.C. 8902(m)(2)] mandates 
special consideration for enrollees of certain FEHB plans who receive 
covered health services in States with critical shortages of primary 
care physicians. Such States are designated as Medically Underserved 
Areas for purposes of the FEHB Program, and the law requires payment to 
all qualified providers in the States.
    FEHB regulations (5 CFR 890.701) require OPM to make an annual 
calculation of the States that qualify as Medically Underserved Areas 
for the next calendar year by comparing the latest Department of Health 
and Human Services State-by-State population counts on primary medical 
care manpower shortage areas with U.S. Census figures on State resident 
population.
Office of Personnel Management.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.
[FR Doc. 98-23694 Filed 9-2-98; 8:45 am]
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