[Federal Register: September 3, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 171)]
[Notices]
[Page 47046]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-P