Means Test and Geographic Thresholds, 4772-4773 [E7-1657]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 21 / Thursday, February 1, 2007 / Notices
Inez
E. De Jesus at 1–888–912–1227, or 954–
423–7977.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
hereby given pursuant to section
10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (1988)
that an open meeting of the Area 2
Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be held
Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at 2:30
p.m. ET via a telephone conference call.
If you would like to have the TAP
consider a written statement, please call
1–888–912–1227 or 954–423–7977, or
write Inez E. De Jesus, TAP Office, 1000
South Pine Island Rd., Suite 340,
Plantation, FL 33324. Due to limited
conference lines, notification of intent
to participate in the telephone
conference call meeting must be made
with Inez E. De Jesus. Ms. De Jesus can
be reached at 1–888–912–1227 or 954–
423–7977, or post comments to the Web
site: https://www.improveirs.org.
The agenda will include the
following: Various IRS issues.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: January 24, 2007.
John Fay,
Acting Director, Taxpayer Advocacy Panel.
[FR Doc. E7–1553 Filed 1–31–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Means Test and Geographic
Thresholds
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Each year VA establishes, by
directive, new means test thresholds
and geographic income limits.
DATES: These rates are effective January
1, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Roscoe Butler, Deputy Director,
Business Policy, Chief Business Office
(CBO) (163), Veterans Health
Administration (VHA), 810 Vermont,
NW., Washington, DC 20420 (202) 254–
0329. This is not a toll-free number.)
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Veterans Health Administration Washington, DC 20420.
VHA DIRECTIVE
2006–064.
December 19, 2006.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Means Test and Geographic-Based Means
Test Thresholds for Calendar Year 2007
1. Purpose
This Veterans Health Administration
(VHA) Directive provides the Means Test
Thresholds, Medicare Deductible Rate, and
Child Income Exclusion for calendar year
2007. In addition, this Directive provides an
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:47 Jan 31, 2007
Jkt 211001
internet link to the United States (U.S.)
Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD)
income limits for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 for
use by VHA in calendar year 2007.
2. Background
a. Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.)
Section 1722(c) requires that on January 1 of
each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
increase the means test threshold amounts by
the same percentage the maximum rates of
pension benefits were increased under 38
U.S.C. 5312(a) during the preceding calendar
year. Under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 5312,
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is
required to increase the benefit rates and
income limitations in the pension and
parents’ Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation (DIC) Program by the same
percentage and effective date as increases in
the benefit amounts payable under Title II of
the Social Security Act.
b. On November 13, 2006, the Veterans
Benefits Administration (VBA) announced
that effective December 1, 2006, veterans’
benefits will receive an increase of 3.3
percent.
c. Public Law 107–135, the Department of
Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs
Enhancement Act of 2001, directed VA to
implement a Geographic-based Means Test
(GMT) (see 38 U.S.C. Section 1705(a)(7)). VA
uses HUD’s ‘‘low-income’’ geographic-based
income limits as the thresholds for VA’s
GMT. Note: The Health Eligibility Center
(HEC) controls the GMT for VA; as such, HEC
will install Patch IVMB*2.0*905 before
January 1, 2007. A veteran’s income from the
previous year is compared with the
appropriate GMT threshold for the previous
fiscal year to determine if the veteran should
be placed in priority category 7. The ‘‘low
income’’ geographic-based income thresholds
for FY 2006 can be found at: https://
www.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/pubs/
GMTIncomeThresholds/
d. Definitions.
(1) ‘‘Below the means test threshold.’’
‘‘Below the means test threshold’’ is defined
as those veterans whose attributable income
and net worth are such that they are unable
to defray the expenses of care; therefore, they
are not subject to co-payment charges for
hospital and outpatient medical services.
Within the Veterans Health Information
Systems and Technology Architecture
(VistA) system such veterans are designated
as ‘‘Means Test Copay Exempt.’’
This VHA Directive Expires December 31,
2007
(2) ‘‘Above the means test and GMT
threshold.’’ ‘‘Above the means test and GMT
threshold’’ is defined as those veterans
whose attributable income and net worth are
such that they are able to defray the expenses
of care; therefore they must agree to pay a copayment for hospital care and outpatient
medical services. Within the VistA system
these veterans are designated as ‘‘Means Test
Copay Required.’’
(3) ‘‘Above the means test and below the
GMT threshold.’’ ‘‘Above the means test and
below the GMT threshold,’’ is defined as
those veterans whose attributable income and
net worth are such that they are able to
PO 00000
Frm 00093
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
defray the expense of care, but whose
inpatient medical care co-payments are
reduced 80 percent. These veterans must also
agree to pay a co-payment for hospital care
and outpatient medical services. Within the
VistA system these veterans are identified as
‘‘GMT Copay Required.’’
Note: Veterans subject to means test and
GMT co-payments may be responsible for
applicable co-payments for outpatient
medications and/or extended care services.
3. Policy: It is VHA policy that all VA
health care facilities must install patches
DG*5.3*734, EAS*1.0*78, and IB*2.0*362
before January 1, 2007.
Note: The Health Eligibility Center (HEC)
controls the GMT for VA; as such, HEC will
install Patch IVMB*2.0*905 before January 1,
2007. The new means test, net worth, and
GMT threshold rates are effective January 1,
2007.
4. Action.
a. Medical Facility Director. Before January
1, 2007, each medical facility Director, or
designee, is responsible of installing patches
DG*5.3*734, EAS*1.0*78, and IB*2.0*362.
Note: The new means test and GMT
threshold rates are effective January 1, 2007.
Do not manually load or edit the new rates
indicated within this Directive into the VistA
System. All updates must be made using the
released patches.
b. Means Test Thresholds. The following
new Means Test Thresholds are effective
January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007:
(1) Veterans with No Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $27,790.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $27,791.
(2) Veterans with One Dependent:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $33,350.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $33,351.
(3) Veterans with Two Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $35,216.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $35,217.
(4) Veterans with Three Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $37,082.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $37,083.
(5) Veterans with Four Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $38,948.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $38,949.
(6) Veterans with Five Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $40,814.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $40,815.
c. Dependent Threshold Amount Increase
(above two dependents): $1,866.
d. Child Income Exclusion: $8,750.
e. Medicare Deductible: $992.
f. Income and/or Asset threshold for Net
Worth Development: $80,000.
g. Maximum Annual Rate of Pension: Base
rate.
(1) The base rate for a single veteran with
no dependents is $10,929.
Note: This rate is also used to determine
if certain veterans are subject to co-payments
for Extended Care Services.
(2) The base rate with one dependent is
$14,313.
(3) Add $1,866 for each additional
dependent.
h. The Medication Co-payment Threshold
effective date is January 1 of each year.
5. References
a. Title 38 U.S.C. 1705(a)(7) and 1722.
E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM
01FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 21 / Thursday, February 1, 2007 / Notices
b. Title 38 Codes of Federal Regulations
(CFR) Sections 17.36(b)(7), 17.47(d), and
17.47(f).
6. Follow-Up Responsibility: The Chief
Business Office (16) is responsible for the
contents of this Directive. Questions may be
addressed to 202–254–0406.
7. Rescissions: VHA Directive 2005–064 is
rescinded. This VHA Directive expires
December 31, 2007.
Michael J. Kussman,
Acting Under Secretary for Health.
Dated: January 26, 2007.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. E7–1657 Filed 1–31–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Copayment for Medication
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice 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
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:47 Jan 31, 2007
Jkt 211001
shall not exceed the cap of $960.00.
These rates are based on the
Prescription Drug component of the
Medical Consumer Price Index as cited
in Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations,
Part 17, Section 17.110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tony Guagliardo, Director, Business
Policy (163), Veterans Health
Administration, VA, 810 Vermont
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420,
(202) 273–0406. (This is not a toll-free
number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is
required by law to charge certain
veterans a copayment for each 30-day or
less supply of medication provided on
an outpatient basis (other than
medication administered during
treatment) for treatment of a non-service
connected condition. Public Law 106–
117, The Veterans’ Millennium Health
Care and Benefits Act, gives the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs authority
to increase the medication copayment
amount and to establish a calendar year
cap on the amount of medication
copayments charged to veterans
enrolled in priority groups 2 through 6.
When veterans reach the calendar year
cap, they will continue to receive
medications without additional
copayments for that calendar year.
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
4773
Formula for Calculating the Medication
Copayment Amount
Each calendar year beginning after
December 31, 2002, the Prescription
Drug component of the Medical
Consumer Price Index of the previous
September 30 is divided by the Index as
of September 30, 2001. The ratio is then
multiplied by the original copayment
amount of $7.00. The copayment
amount of the new calendar year is then
rounded down to the whole dollar
amount.
Computation of Calendar Year 2007
Medication Copayment Amount
a. Prescription Drug Medical
Consumer Price Index as of September
30, 2006 = 368.4.
b. Prescription Drug Medical
Consumer Price Index as of September
30, 2001 = 304.8.
c. Index = 368.4 divided by 304.8 =
1.2086.
d. (INDEX) X $7= $8.46.
e. Copayment amount = $8.00.
Dated: January 26, 2007.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. E7–1658 Filed 1–31–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM
01FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 21 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4772-4773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1657]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Means Test and Geographic Thresholds
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Each year VA establishes, by directive, new means test
thresholds and geographic income limits.
DATES: These rates are effective January 1, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roscoe Butler, Deputy Director,
Business Policy, Chief Business Office (CBO) (163), Veterans Health
Administration (VHA), 810 Vermont, NW., Washington, DC 20420 (202) 254-
0329. This is not a toll-free number.)
Department of Veterans Affairs............ VHA DIRECTIVE 2006-064.
Veterans Health Administration Washington, December 19, 2006.
DC 20420.
Means Test and Geographic-Based Means Test Thresholds for Calendar Year
2007
1. Purpose
This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive provides the
Means Test Thresholds, Medicare Deductible Rate, and Child Income
Exclusion for calendar year 2007. In addition, this Directive
provides an internet link to the United States (U.S.) Housing and
Urban Development's (HUD) income limits for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006
for use by VHA in calendar year 2007.
2. Background
a. Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 1722(c) requires
that on January 1 of each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
increase the means test threshold amounts by the same percentage the
maximum rates of pension benefits were increased under 38 U.S.C.
5312(a) during the preceding calendar year. Under the provisions of
38 U.S.C. 5312, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is required
to increase the benefit rates and income limitations in the pension
and parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Program by
the same percentage and effective date as increases in the benefit
amounts payable under Title II of the Social Security Act.
b. On November 13, 2006, the Veterans Benefits Administration
(VBA) announced that effective December 1, 2006, veterans' benefits
will receive an increase of 3.3 percent.
c. Public Law 107-135, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health
Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001, directed VA to implement a
Geographic-based Means Test (GMT) (see 38 U.S.C. Section
1705(a)(7)). VA uses HUD's ``low-income'' geographic-based income
limits as the thresholds for VA's GMT. Note: The Health Eligibility
Center (HEC) controls the GMT for VA; as such, HEC will install
Patch IVMB*2.0*905 before January 1, 2007. A veteran's income from
the previous year is compared with the appropriate GMT threshold for
the previous fiscal year to determine if the veteran should be
placed in priority category 7. The ``low income'' geographic-based
income thresholds for FY 2006 can be found at: https://www.va.gov/
healtheligibility/Library/pubs/GMTIncomeThresholds/
d. Definitions.
(1) ``Below the means test threshold.'' ``Below the means test
threshold'' is defined as those veterans whose attributable income
and net worth are such that they are unable to defray the expenses
of care; therefore, they are not subject to co-payment charges for
hospital and outpatient medical services. Within the Veterans Health
Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) system such
veterans are designated as ``Means Test Copay Exempt.''
This VHA Directive Expires December 31, 2007
(2) ``Above the means test and GMT threshold.'' ``Above the
means test and GMT threshold'' is defined as those veterans whose
attributable income and net worth are such that they are able to
defray the expenses of care; therefore they must agree to pay a co-
payment for hospital care and outpatient medical services. Within
the VistA system these veterans are designated as ``Means Test Copay
Required.''
(3) ``Above the means test and below the GMT threshold.''
``Above the means test and below the GMT threshold,'' is defined as
those veterans whose attributable income and net worth are such that
they are able to defray the expense of care, but whose inpatient
medical care co-payments are reduced 80 percent. These veterans must
also agree to pay a co-payment for hospital care and outpatient
medical services. Within the VistA system these veterans are
identified as ``GMT Copay Required.''
Note: Veterans subject to means test and GMT co-payments may be
responsible for applicable co-payments for outpatient medications
and/or extended care services.
3. Policy: It is VHA policy that all VA health care facilities
must install patches DG*5.3*734, EAS*1.0*78, and IB*2.0*362 before
January 1, 2007.
Note: The Health Eligibility Center (HEC) controls the GMT for
VA; as such, HEC will install Patch IVMB*2.0*905 before January 1,
2007. The new means test, net worth, and GMT threshold rates are
effective January 1, 2007.
4. Action.
a. Medical Facility Director. Before January 1, 2007, each
medical facility Director, or designee, is responsible of installing
patches DG*5.3*734, EAS*1.0*78, and IB*2.0*362.
Note: The new means test and GMT threshold rates are effective
January 1, 2007. Do not manually load or edit the new rates
indicated within this Directive into the VistA System. All updates
must be made using the released patches.
b. Means Test Thresholds. The following new Means Test
Thresholds are effective January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007:
(1) Veterans with No Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $27,790.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $27,791.
(2) Veterans with One Dependent:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $33,350.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $33,351.
(3) Veterans with Two Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $35,216.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $35,217.
(4) Veterans with Three Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $37,082.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $37,083.
(5) Veterans with Four Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $38,948.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $38,949.
(6) Veterans with Five Dependents:
(a) Below Means Test Threshold: $40,814.
(b) Above Means Test Threshold: $40,815.
c. Dependent Threshold Amount Increase (above two dependents):
$1,866.
d. Child Income Exclusion: $8,750.
e. Medicare Deductible: $992.
f. Income and/or Asset threshold for Net Worth Development:
$80,000.
g. Maximum Annual Rate of Pension: Base rate.
(1) The base rate for a single veteran with no dependents is
$10,929.
Note: This rate is also used to determine if certain veterans
are subject to co-payments for Extended Care Services.
(2) The base rate with one dependent is $14,313.
(3) Add $1,866 for each additional dependent.
h. The Medication Co-payment Threshold effective date is January
1 of each year.
5. References
a. Title 38 U.S.C. 1705(a)(7) and 1722.
[[Page 4773]]
b. Title 38 Codes of Federal Regulations (CFR) Sections
17.36(b)(7), 17.47(d), and 17.47(f).
6. Follow-Up Responsibility: The Chief Business Office (16) is
responsible for the contents of this Directive. Questions may be
addressed to 202-254-0406.
7. Rescissions: VHA Directive 2005-064 is rescinded. This VHA
Directive expires December 31, 2007.
Michael J. Kussman,
Acting Under Secretary for Health.
Dated: January 26, 2007.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. E7-1657 Filed 1-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
