Revised Procedures and Criteria for Payment of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Under the Cost Reimbursement Program, 66075-66076 [E9-29669]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 238 / Monday, December 14, 2009 / Proposed Rules that functionally equals the listings based on the example in § 416.926a(m)(5). D. How do we evaluate other endocrine disorders that have effects that do not meet or medically equal the criteria of any listing in other body systems? If your impairment(s) does not meet or medically equal a listing in another body system, we will consider whether your impairment(s) functionally equals the listings under the criteria in § 416.926a, considering the factors in § 416.924a. When we decide whether you continue to be disabled, we use the rules in § 416.994a. 109.01 Category of Impairments, Endocrine. 109.08 Any type of diabetes mellitus in a child who requires daily insulin and has not attained age 6. Consider under a disability until the attainment of age 6. Thereafter, evaluate the diabetes mellitus according to the rules in 109.00B5 and C. * * * * * PART 416—SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED 4. The authority citation for subpart I of part 416 continues to read as follows: Authority: Secs. 221(m), 702(a)(5), 1611, 1614, 1619, 1631(a), (c), (d)(1), and (p) and 1633 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 421(m), 902(a)(5), 1382, 1382c, 1382h, 1383(a), (c), (d)(1), and (p), and 1383(b); secs. 4(c) and 5, 6(c)–(e), 14(a), and 15, Pub. L. 98– 460, 98 Stat. 1794, 1801, 1802, and 1808 (42 U.S.C. 421 note, 423 note, and 1382h note). 5. Amend § 416.925 by revising paragraph (c)(1) and the first sentence of paragraph (c)(3) to read as follows: § 416.925 Listing of impairments in appendix 1 of subpart P of part 404 of this chapter. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with PROPOSALS * * * * * (c) How do we use the listings? (1) Most body system sections in parts A and B of appendix 1 are in two parts: an introduction, followed by the specific listings. * * * * * (3) In most cases, the specific listings follow the introduction in each body system, after the heading, Category of Impairments. * * * * * * * * [FR Doc. E9–29671 Filed 12–11–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4191–02–P VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:52 Dec 11, 2009 Jkt 220001 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 20 CFR Parts 404 and 416 [Docket No. SSA–2009–0040] RIN 0960–AF80 Revised Procedures and Criteria for Payment of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Under the Cost Reimbursement Program Social Security Administration. Advance notice of proposed rulemaking. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: We are requesting your comments on whether and how we should revise our rules governing payment for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services under the cost reimbursement program. Our current regulations do not reflect programmatic changes resulting from the new regulations we issued in May of 2008 for the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program (Ticket to Work program). We are requesting your comments as part of our ongoing effort to ensure that the regulations governing cost reimbursement for VR services are current and support our other return to work programs, specifically the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive programs. If we propose specific revisions, we will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. DATES: To ensure that we consider your comments, we must receive them no later than February 12, 2010. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of three methods—Internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA–2009–0040 so that we may associate your comments with the correct regulation. Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as Social Security numbers or medical information. 1. Internet: We strongly recommend this method for submitting your comments. Visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function of the webpage to find docket number SSA–2009–0040, then submit your comment. Once you submit your comment, the system will issue you a tracking number to confirm your submission. You will not be able to PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 66075 view your comment immediately as we must manually post each comment. It may take up to a week for your comment to be viewable. 2. Fax: Fax comments to (410) 966– 2830. 3. Mail: Mail your comments to the Office of Regulations, Social Security Administration, 137 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235–6401. Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov or in person, during regular business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rudick, Office of Regulations, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401, (410) 965–7105. For information on eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national toll-free number, 1–800–772–1213 or TTY 1–800–325–0778, or visit our Internet site, Social Security Online, at https:// www.socialsecurity.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Version The electronic file of this document is available on the date of publication in the Federal Register at https:// www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/. What Is The Purpose of This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM)? This ANPRM gives you an opportunity to provide input concerning whether and how we might revise our procedures and criteria for payments to State VR agencies for VR services provided to disability beneficiaries under the cost reimbursement system. The regulations governing State VR agency cost reimbursement are found in 20 CFR part 404, subpart V, and part 416, subpart V. We last published rules for this program in the Federal Register on July 7, 2003. We are publishing this ANPRM as part of our ongoing effort to ensure that our criteria are effective and provide accurate guidance regarding the connection between the VR cost reimbursement and Ticket to Work programs. On Which Rules Are We Inviting Comments? We are interested in any comments and suggestions you have about how we should revise 20 CFR part 404, subpart V, and part 416, subpart V. You can find the current rules for the cost reimbursement program on the Internet at the following locations: E:\FR\FM\14DEP1.SGM 14DEP1 66076 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 238 / Monday, December 14, 2009 / Proposed Rules https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/ waisidx_09/20cfr404_09.html https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/ waisidx_09/20cfr416_09.html. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with PROPOSALS Who Should Send Us Comments and Suggestions? We invite comments and suggestions from people who have an interest in the rules we use to administer the VR cost reimbursement program, people who apply for or receive benefits from us, members of the general public, State VR agencies, advocates and organizations who represent parties interested in cost reimbursement and the Ticket to Work programs, and others. What Should You Comment About? We issued initial Ticket to Work program regulations on December 23, 2001 (66 FR 67369). On May 20, 2008, we published amendments to those rules based on our experience administering the Ticket to Work program (73 FR 29324). While those rules simplified the program and made it more attractive to beneficiaries and potential service providers, we have not yet fully updated the regulations governing the VR cost reimbursement program to complement the Ticket to Work program. In advance of proposing regulatory changes to the VR cost reimbursement program, we would like your general comments, as well as comments on a few specific issues. These specific issues include: 1. What changes to the VR cost reimbursement regulations might we consider to make them work more effectively with the Ticket to Work program? 2. Is the list of services for which payment may be made, found at 20 CFR 404.2114 and 416.2214, adequate and comprehensive? If not, what changes to the list of allowable services should we consider? 3. Under the Ticket to Work program, our rules discount payments to an EN when it accepts a ticket assignment for job retention services for a beneficiary who is a former VR agency client and was working when the VR agency closed the VR case. 20 CFR 411.585. Our reimbursement rules do not cover the reverse situation: when the EN is the first provider and the VR agency later provides job retention or career advancement services. How should we avoid duplicate payments for the same services while ensuring that individuals get the services they need to maximize opportunities for employment? 4. Benefits planners (including those with the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance organizations) provide VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:52 Dec 11, 2009 Jkt 220001 information to beneficiaries with disabilities regarding the effect of earnings on many types of benefits. We would appreciate your comments about how benefits planning can become a more central part of a beneficiary’s participation in the VR process. Will We Respond to Your Comments From This Notice? We will not respond directly to comments you send in response to this ANPRM. After we have considered all comments and suggestions as well as what we have learned from our program experience administering the cost reimbursement option under the Ticket to Work program, we will determine whether and how we should revise our regulations. If we decide to propose specific revisions, we will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register, and you will have a chance to comment on the revisions we propose. List of Subjects 20 CFR Part 404 Administrative practice and procedure, Blind, Disability benefits, Old-age, Survivors, and Disability insurance, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Social Security, Vocational rehabilitation. processing fees. The rule raises from $131 to $140 the fee charged for the processing of an application for most non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas (Machine-Readable Visas or MRVs) and adult Border Crossing Cards (BCCs). The rule also provides new application fees for certain categories of petition-based nonimmigrant visas and treaty trader and investor visas (all of which are also MRVs). Finally, the rule increases the $13 BCC fee charged to Mexican citizen minors who apply in Mexico, and whose parent or guardian already has a BCC or is applying for one, by raising that fee to $14 by virtue of a congressionally mandated surcharge that goes into effect this year. The Department of State is adjusting the fees to ensure that sufficient resources are available to meet the costs of providing consular services in light of an independent cost of service study’s findings that the U.S. Government is not fully covering its costs for the processing of these visas under the current cost structure. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. [Public Notice: 6851] ADDRESSES: Interested parties may contact the Department by any of the following methods: • Persons with access to the Internet may view this notice and submit comments by going to the regulations.gov Web site at: https:// www.regulations.gov/index.cfm. • Mail (paper, disk, or CD–ROM): U.S. Department of State, Office of the Executive Director, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Suite H1001, 2401 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20520. • E-mail: fees@state.gov. You must include the RIN (1400–AC57) in the subject line of your message. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Baskette, Office of the Executive Director, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State; phone: 202–663– 3923, telefax: 202–663–2599; e-mail: fees@state.gov. RIN: 1400–AC57 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates Background 20 CFR Part 416 Administrative practice and procedure, Aged, Blind, Disability benefits, Public assistance programs, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Vocational rehabilitation. Dated: November 9, 2009. Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. [FR Doc. E9–29669 Filed 12–11–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4191–02–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE 22 CFR Part 22 AGENCY: Bureau of Consular Affairs, State. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: This rule amends the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (Schedule) for nonimmigrant visa application and border crossing card PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 What Is the Authority for This Action? The Department of State derives the general authority to set the amount of fees for the consular services it provides, and to charge those fees, from the general user charges statute, 31 U.S.C. 9701. See, e.g., 31 U.S.C. 9701(b)(2)(A) (‘‘The head of each agency * * * may prescribe regulations establishing the charge for a service or E:\FR\FM\14DEP1.SGM 14DEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 238 (Monday, December 14, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66075-66076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29669]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

20 CFR Parts 404 and 416

[Docket No. SSA-2009-0040]
RIN 0960-AF80


Revised Procedures and Criteria for Payment of Vocational 
Rehabilitation Services Under the Cost Reimbursement Program

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are requesting your comments on whether and how we should 
revise our rules governing payment for vocational rehabilitation (VR) 
services under the cost reimbursement program. Our current regulations 
do not reflect programmatic changes resulting from the new regulations 
we issued in May of 2008 for the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency 
Program (Ticket to Work program). We are requesting your comments as 
part of our ongoing effort to ensure that the regulations governing 
cost reimbursement for VR services are current and support our other 
return to work programs, specifically the Ticket to Work and Work 
Incentive programs. If we propose specific revisions, we will publish a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register.

DATES: To ensure that we consider your comments, we must receive them 
no later than February 12, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of three methods--
Internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times 
or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, 
please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2009-0040 so 
that we may associate your comments with the correct regulation.
    Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only 
information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge 
you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as 
Social Security numbers or medical information.
    1. Internet: We strongly recommend this method for submitting your 
comments. Visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function of the webpage to find 
docket number SSA-2009-0040, then submit your comment. Once you submit 
your comment, the system will issue you a tracking number to confirm 
your submission. You will not be able to view your comment immediately 
as we must manually post each comment. It may take up to a week for 
your comment to be viewable.
    2. Fax: Fax comments to (410) 966-2830.
    3. Mail: Mail your comments to the Office of Regulations, Social 
Security Administration, 137 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401.
    Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal 
eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov or in person, during 
regular business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rudick, Office of Regulations, 
Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 
21235-6401, (410) 965-7105. For information on eligibility or filing 
for benefits, call our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 
1-800-325-0778, or visit our Internet site, Social Security Online, at 
https://www.socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Version

    The electronic file of this document is available on the date of 
publication in the Federal Register at https://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.

What Is The Purpose of This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(ANPRM)?

    This ANPRM gives you an opportunity to provide input concerning 
whether and how we might revise our procedures and criteria for 
payments to State VR agencies for VR services provided to disability 
beneficiaries under the cost reimbursement system. The regulations 
governing State VR agency cost reimbursement are found in 20 CFR part 
404, subpart V, and part 416, subpart V. We last published rules for 
this program in the Federal Register on July 7, 2003. We are publishing 
this ANPRM as part of our ongoing effort to ensure that our criteria 
are effective and provide accurate guidance regarding the connection 
between the VR cost reimbursement and Ticket to Work programs.

On Which Rules Are We Inviting Comments?

    We are interested in any comments and suggestions you have about 
how we should revise 20 CFR part 404, subpart V, and part 416, subpart 
V. You can find the current rules for the cost reimbursement program on 
the Internet at the following locations:


[[Page 66076]]


https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_09/20cfr404_09.html
https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_09/20cfr416_09.html.

Who Should Send Us Comments and Suggestions?

    We invite comments and suggestions from people who have an interest 
in the rules we use to administer the VR cost reimbursement program, 
people who apply for or receive benefits from us, members of the 
general public, State VR agencies, advocates and organizations who 
represent parties interested in cost reimbursement and the Ticket to 
Work programs, and others.

What Should You Comment About?

    We issued initial Ticket to Work program regulations on December 
23, 2001 (66 FR 67369). On May 20, 2008, we published amendments to 
those rules based on our experience administering the Ticket to Work 
program (73 FR 29324). While those rules simplified the program and 
made it more attractive to beneficiaries and potential service 
providers, we have not yet fully updated the regulations governing the 
VR cost reimbursement program to complement the Ticket to Work program.
    In advance of proposing regulatory changes to the VR cost 
reimbursement program, we would like your general comments, as well as 
comments on a few specific issues. These specific issues include:
    1. What changes to the VR cost reimbursement regulations might we 
consider to make them work more effectively with the Ticket to Work 
program?
    2. Is the list of services for which payment may be made, found at 
20 CFR 404.2114 and 416.2214, adequate and comprehensive? If not, what 
changes to the list of allowable services should we consider?
    3. Under the Ticket to Work program, our rules discount payments to 
an EN when it accepts a ticket assignment for job retention services 
for a beneficiary who is a former VR agency client and was working when 
the VR agency closed the VR case. 20 CFR 411.585. Our reimbursement 
rules do not cover the reverse situation: when the EN is the first 
provider and the VR agency later provides job retention or career 
advancement services. How should we avoid duplicate payments for the 
same services while ensuring that individuals get the services they 
need to maximize opportunities for employment?
    4. Benefits planners (including those with the Work Incentives 
Planning and Assistance organizations) provide information to 
beneficiaries with disabilities regarding the effect of earnings on 
many types of benefits. We would appreciate your comments about how 
benefits planning can become a more central part of a beneficiary's 
participation in the VR process.

Will We Respond to Your Comments From This Notice?

    We will not respond directly to comments you send in response to 
this ANPRM. After we have considered all comments and suggestions as 
well as what we have learned from our program experience administering 
the cost reimbursement option under the Ticket to Work program, we will 
determine whether and how we should revise our regulations. If we 
decide to propose specific revisions, we will publish a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register, and you will have a chance 
to comment on the revisions we propose.

List of Subjects

20 CFR Part 404

    Administrative practice and procedure, Blind, Disability benefits, 
Old-age, Survivors, and Disability insurance, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Social Security, Vocational rehabilitation.

20 CFR Part 416

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aged, Blind, Disability 
benefits, Public assistance programs, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Vocational 
rehabilitation.

    Dated: November 9, 2009.
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. E9-29669 Filed 12-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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