[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR31.4]

[Page 101-102]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
    CHAPTER I--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                                SERVICES
 
PART 31--MEDICAL CARE FOR CERTAIN PERSONNEL OF THE COAST GUARD, NATIONAL OCEAN SURVEY, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, AND FORMER LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 31.4  Use of other than Service facilities.

    (a) When a person specified in Sec. 31.2 who is on active duty 
requires immediate medical, surgical, or dental treatment or 
hospitalization and the urgency of the situation does not permit 
treatment at a medical relief station or by a designated physician or 
designated dentist, an officer of the same service as the patient may 
arrange for treatment or hospitalization at the expense of the Service.
    (b) When the circumstances are such that an officer of the same 
service as the patient is not available to make the necessary 
arrangements, the treatment or hospitalization may be obtained by or on 
behalf of the patient at the expense of the Service.
    (c) In every case of treatment or hospitalization as defined in 
paragraph (b) of this section, the responsible superior officer of the 
patient shall be notified as promptly as possible and a full report 
shall be submitted by such officer to the Surgeon General through 
appropriate official channels. As soon as practicable, unless the 
interests of the patient or the Government require otherwise, treatment 
or hospitalization shall be continued at a medical relief station or by 
a designated physician or designated dentist or at another appropriate 
Federal medical facility.
    (d) When the necessary medical relief cannot be obtained from a 
medical relief station or a designated physician or designated dentist, 
preference shall be given to other Federal medical facilities when 
reasonably available and when conditions permit.
    (e) Vouchers on proper forms covering expenses for treatment or 
hospitalization under the circumstances specified in paragraphs (a) and 
(b) of this section shall be forwarded to the Surgeon General through 
appropriate official channels. Each such voucher shall be accompanied by 
or contain a statement of the facts necessitating the treatment or 
hospitalization. Unreasonable charges for emergency

[[Page 102]]

treatment or hospitalization will not be allowed.
    (f) Expenses for consultants or special services, or for dental 
treatment other than emergency measures to relieve pain, shall not be 
allowed except when authorized in advance by the headquarters of the 
Service or, in extraordinary cases, when subsequently approved by such 
headquarters upon receipt of report and satisfactory explanation as to 
the necessity and urgency therefor.

(Sec. 326, 58 Stat. 697, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 253)