[Federal Register: September 8, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 174)]
[Notices]               
[Page 46876]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08se95-124]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

 
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Medically Underserved 
Areas for 1996

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice of Medically Underserved Areas for 1996.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management has completed its annual 
determination of the States that qualify as Medically Underserved Areas 
under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program for calendar 
year 1996. This determination 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 1996, OPM has determined that the following States are 
Medically Underserved Areas under the FEHB program: Alabama, Arkansas, 
Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota, South 
Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Arkansas and Idaho 
are new for 1996; Georgia has been removed from the list.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Leibach, 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 these States.
    FEHB regulations (5 CFR 890.701) require OPM to make an annual 
determination 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.
James B. King,
Director.
[FR Doc. 95-22315 Filed 9-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-M