Contract health care services; reimbursement and Medicare allowable rates--Bureau of Prisons, Dept. of Justice. Notice

The Bureau of Prisons is issuing this Statement of Policy to inform the public that when it becomes necessary to supplement the direct delivery system of health care the Bureau provides to persons committed to its custody, the Bureau ordinarily will contract to purchase health services only with those hospitals, physicians and other health care providers which agree to accept, as payment in full, reimbursement at rates no higher than the prevailing Medicare allowable rates (including deductibles and co-payments). This encompasses those rates established by the Health Care Financing Administration as "sole community providers" or "regional referral centers". The Bureau will phase this policy into the administration of its contract health services program.