[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 42, Volume 1]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

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)