TRICARE Coverage and Reimbursement of Certain Services Resulting From Temporary Program Changes in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)) issues this final rule related to certain provisions of three TRICARE interim final rules (IFRs) with request for comments issued in 2020 in response to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE). Temporary coverage of telephonic office visits is made permanent in this final rule, with its adoption expanded beyond the pandemic; the temporary telehealth cost-share waiver is terminated; and the temporary waiver of certain acute care hospital requirements and permanent adoption of Medicare New Technology Add-on Payments for new medical items and services are modified, as further discussed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this rule