Federal Regulations Significant to Veterans [February 2007]

• Advisory Committee on OIF/ OEFVeterans and Families; Notice of Establishment - As required by Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on February 26, 2007, of the establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Advisory Committee on OIF/OEFVeterans and Families.
  The Committee will provide advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the full spectrum of health care, benefits delivery and related family support issues that confront servicemembers during their transition from active duty to veterans' status and during their post-service years. The Committee will focus on the concerns of all men and women with active military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom, but will pay particular attention to severely disabled veterans and their families.

• Blue Ribbon Panel On VA-Medical School Affiliations; Notice of Meeting - As required by Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on February 22, 2007, that the Blue Ribbon Panel On VA-Medical School Affiliations scheduled a meeting on March 27, 2007, in Washington, DC.
  The panelists will review VA's current affiliations with medical schools and establish the future directions of the Panel. The Panel will receive background presentations and issue papers on various topics that are relevant to the Panel's deliberations.
  Contact: J. Holland, PhD Special Assistant for Policy and Planning to the Chief Academic Affiliations Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail: Gloria.Holland@va.gov.

• Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 22, 2007, that the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War scheduled a meeting on April 16 through 18, 2007, in Washington, DC. The agenda will include remarks from dignitaries, a review of Committee reports, an update of activities since the last meeting, and a period for FPOW veterans and/or the public to address the Committee; also, the Committee will hear reports from the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration; and an update on Robert E. Mitchell Center for Prisoners of War studies.
  Contact: Bradley G. Mayes, Director, Compensation and Pension Service (21), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.

• Fund Availability Under the Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published four notices in the Federal Register on February 22, 2007, to announce the availability of funds for applications for assistance under the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. Funds are available for applications as follows:
  • for applications for assistance under the ``Per Diem Only'' component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program;
  • or applications for assistance under the Technical Assistance Grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program;
  • for applications for assistance under the Special Need Grant Component of VA's GPD Program, that is: Seriously Mentally Ill; Women, including women who have care of minor dependents; Frail elderly; or Terminally Ill; and,
  • for re-applications for assistance under the Special Need grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program, that is: Chronically Mentally Ill; Women, including women who have care of minor dependents; Frail elderly; or Terminally Ill.
  Application packages on-line: http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3
  Deadline: An original completed and collated grant application (plus three completed collated copies) for assistance under the VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Field Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on April 4, 2007. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX).
  Contact: Dr. Guy Liedke, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs; Office of Research and Development (12TT), Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 North 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617; toll-free telephone: 1-877-332-0334.

• Allowance for Private Purchase of an Outer Burial Receptacle in Lieu of a Government-Furnished Graveliner for a Grave in a VA National Cemetery - Public Law 104-275 (enacted October 9, 1996) allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a monetary allowance towards the private purchase of an outer burial receptacle for use in a VA national cemetery. The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 15, 2007, that the net allowance payable for qualifying interments occurring during calendar year 2007, is $188.67.
  Contact: Lisa Ciolek, Budget and Finance Service (41B1), National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5161.

• Priority for Partial Grants to States for Construction or Acquisition of State Home Facilities - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on February 14, 2007, which adopts as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule amending the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations regarding grants to States for construction or acquisition of State homes. The amendment was necessary to ensure that projects designed to remedy conditions at an existing State home that have been cited as threatening to the lives or safety of the residents receive priority for receiving VA grants in the future (including in Fiscal Year 2007).
  Effective Date: February 14, 2007.
  Contact: Frank Salvas, Chief, State Home Construction Grant Program (114), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW</ acronym>, Washington, DC 20420; telephone number (202) 273-8534.
  

• Home Schooling and Educational Institution - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on February 14, 2007, to amend adjudication regulations regarding the definition of a child for purposes of establishing entitlement to additional monetary benefits for a child who is home-schooled. VA defines educational institutions to include home-school programs that meet the legal requirements of the States (by complying with the compulsory attendance laws of the States) in which they are located. The proposed rule published in the Federal Register on July 13, 2006, is adopted as final, without change.
  Effective Date: March 16, 2007.
  Contact: Maya Ferrandino, Regulations Staff, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210.

• Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 14, 2007, that the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans will meet on February 28 and March 1, 2007, in Washington, DC. The Committee will hear reports from VA officials and others on programs and policies affecting homeless veterans. Much of the activity at this meeting will be in preparation for the Committee's annual report and recommendations to the Secretary.
  Contact: Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, Homeless Veterans Programs Office (075D), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.

• Voluntary Services National Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 13, 2007, that the Voluntary Services National Advisory Committee will meet on May 2 through 5, 2006, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The agenda will feature a Voluntary Service Report, and recognition of the recipients of the VAVS Award for Excellence and NAC Volunteers of the Year. In addition, the James H. Parke Memorial Scholarship Luncheon will be held to honor an outstanding youth volunteer. The following educational workshops are scheduled: Volunteer Assignments in the 21st century, Pet Therapy, and Advanced Clinical Access.
  Contact: Laura Balun, Director, Voluntary Service Office (10C2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8952.

• Genomic Medicine Program Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 13, 2007, that the Genomic Medicine Program Advisory Committee will meet on March 16, 2007 in Washington, DC. The Committee will receive an overview of the VA health care system and electronic medical record, and will be asked to provide insight into optimal ways for VA to incorporate genomic information into its health care program while applying appropriate ethical oversight and protecting the privacy of veterans.
  Contact: Dr. Timothy O'Leary; e-mail: timothy.oleary@va.gov.

• Reasonable Charges for Medical Care or Services; 2007 Calendar Year Update - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on February 13, 2007, relative to the Department's medical regulations concerning ''reasonable charges'' for medical care or services provided or furnished by VA to certain veterans for nonservice-connected disabilities. VA proposes to change the process for determining interim billing charges when a new Diagnosis Related Group code or Current Procedure Terminology/Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code identifier is assigned to a particular type or item of medical care or service and VA has not yet established a charge for the new identifier. This process is designed to provide interim billing charges that are very close to what the new billing charges would be when the charges for the new identifiers are established in accordance with the regulations. VA also proposes to change the regulations by removing all of the provisions for discounts of billed charges. This is expected to reduce or eliminate duplicate discounting and thereby prevent unintended underpayments to the government.
  Comments Deadline: March 15, 2007.
  Address: Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; or on-line through: http://www.Regulations.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AM35.''
  Contact: Romona Greene, Manager of Rates and Charges, VHA Chief Business Office (168), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 254-0361.

• Summary of Precedent Opinions of the General Counsel - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a summary of thirteen legal interpretations issued by the Department's General Counsel, involving veterans' benefits under laws administered by VA, in the Federal Register on February 21 and 22, 2007. These interpretations are considered precedential by VA and will be followed by VA officials and employees in future claim matters. The summary is published to provide the public, and, in particular, veterans' benefit claimants and their representatives, with notice of VA's interpretation regarding the legal matter at issue. The full text of such opinions, with personal identifiers deleted, may be accessed on the Internet at: http://www1.va.gov/OGC/page.cfm?pg=2. Contact: Susan P. Sokoll, Law Librarian, Department of Veterans Affairs (026H), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-6558.

• Advisory Committee on Women Veterans; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 5, 2007, that the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans will meet on February 27 through March 1, 2007, in Washington, DC. The agenda will include briefings on initiatives of the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, acronym title="Department of Veterans Affairs'">VA's Homeless Program and Incarcerated Veterans Re-entry Initiative; an update on activities of the Center for Women Veterans; and an overview of the Department's initiatives, budget, current legislation affecting women veterans, the VHA Women Veterans Health Program, and the Committee will receive updates and briefings on the status of acronym title="Department of Veterans Affairs'">VA's Fee Service Program, domestic violence, the new Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Services Program, and the Center for Minority Veterans.
  Contact: Chanel Bankston-Carter at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Women Veterans (OOW), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-6193; fax: (202) 273-7092, or e-mail: OOW@mail.va.gov.

• Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 5, 2007, that the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission will meet in Washington, DC, on February 21 and 22, 2007. The agenda for the meeting will feature updates on the progress of the studies being conducted by the Center for Naval Analyses and the Institute of Medicine, to include the Center's preliminary analysis of earnings. The Commission will receive presentations on the draft site visit summary report and several draft Issue Papers in various stages of development. The Commission will also receive comments from interested parties on two topics related to specific Research Questions approved by the Commission on October 14, 2005. The two topics will be: Survivors' Concurrent Receipt; and Time Limit to File.
  Website: http://www.vetscommission.org/
  Contact: Ray Wilburn, Executive Director, Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20004; e-mail: veterans@vetscommission.com.

• Copayment for Medication - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 1, 2007, that there is no change in the medication copayment rate for Calendar Year 2007 and the rate will remain at $8.00. The total amount of copayments in a calendar year for a veteran enrolled in one of the priority groups 2 through 6 shall not exceed the cap of $960.00. These increases are based on calculations based on the Prescription Drug component of the Medical Consumer Price Index and as provided in Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, part 17, Sec. 17.110.
  Effective Date: January 1, 2006.
  Contact: Tony Guagliardo, Director, Business Policy (163), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-0406.

• Means Test and Geographic Thresholds - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on February 1, 2007, of the VA Means Test Thresholds, Medicare Deductible Rate, and Child Income Exclusion for calendar year 2007.
  VA Web site: http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/pubs/VAIncomeThresholds/.
  Contact: Chief Business Office (16), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 254-0406.

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