Hospital Care and Medical Services for Camp Lejeune Veterans, 46603-46606 [2016-16917]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 17 RIN 2900–AP59 Hospital Care and Medical Services for Camp Lejeune Veterans Department of Veterans Affairs. Final rule. AGENCY: ACTION: This document amends Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations to reflect a statutory mandate that VA provide health care to certain veterans who served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for at least 30 days during the period beginning on August 1, 1953, and ending on December 31, 1956. The law requires VA to furnish hospital care and medical services for these veterans for certain illnesses and conditions that may be attributed to exposure to toxins in the water system at Camp Lejeune. This rule does not address the statutory provision requiring VA to provide health care to these veterans’ family members; regulations applicable to such family members will be promulgated through a separate final rule. DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective July 18, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bridget Souza, Deputy Director, Business Policy, VHA Office of Community Care (10D), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 382–2537. (This is not a toll-free number.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 6, 2012, the President signed into law the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, Public Law 112–154 (‘‘the Act’’). Among other things, section 102 of the Act amended section 1710 of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.), to require VA to provide hospital care and medical services, for certain specified illnesses and conditions, to veterans who served at the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (hereinafter referred to as Camp Lejeune), while on active duty in the Armed Forces for at least 30 days during the period beginning on January 1, 1957, and ending on December 31, 1987. On September 11, 2013, VA published a notice of proposed rulemaking setting forth proposed regulations to provide hospital care and medical services to certain veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days from January 1, 1957, to December 31, 1987 (‘‘the 1957 cohort’’). 78 FR 55671–55675, asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:07 Jul 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 Sept. 11, 2013. A final rule issuing those regulations was published on September 24, 2014, at 79 FR 57409–57415. In addition to various other provisions, the rule promulgated 38 CFR 17.400, Hospital care and medical services for Camp Lejeune veterans. Subsequently, Congress passed the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113–235 (‘‘the Consolidated Act’’), which President Obama signed into law on December 16, 2014. Division I, Title II, § 243 of the law amended 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(F) by striking ‘‘January 1, 1957,’’ and inserting ‘‘August 1, 1953.’’ This added a new cohort of veterans to the group who are eligible for care pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(F), namely, veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for not fewer than 30 days during the period from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1956 (the ‘‘1953 cohort’’). Although this rulemaking revises regulations to reflect this statutory amendment, we note that VA is currently providing health care to veterans in the 1953 cohort under section 1710(e)(1)(F), as amended. Pursuant to the Consolidated Act, VA amends § 17.400 to account for the change in the date that begins the period of eligibility for Camp Lejeune veterans to receive VA hospital care and medical services. Specifically, we amend the definition of ‘‘Camp Lejeune veteran’’ in § 17.400(b) by deleting ‘‘January 1, 1957’’ and adding in its place ‘‘August 1, 1953.’’ Currently, § 17.400(d)(2) establishes a right to retroactive reimbursement for the 1957 cohort for any copayments paid to VA for VA care provided to the veteran on and after August 6, 2012, so long as the veteran requests Camp Lejeune status no later than September 24, 2016. We previously noted in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that the basis for limiting beginning of this retroactivity period to August 6, 2012, was that the law authorizing Camp Lejeune benefits became effective on that date. We also explained in the proposed and final rules that the basis for the end date of September 24, 2016, was that it provided veterans with sufficient time (ultimately two years from the date that the regulation took effect) to file for retroactive benefits. 79 FR 57410. In this rulemaking, we are providing a similar retroactivity provision in § 17.400(d)(2) for the new 1953 cohort. We further amend § 17.400(b) by adding a definition for ‘‘covered illness or condition.’’ This definition is comprised of the 15 illnesses and conditions for which VA is required to PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 46603 provide hospital care and medical services to veterans under 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(F). These illnesses and conditions are currently listed in § 17.400(d)(1), which addresses exemptions from copayments. We remove the list of these illnesses and conditions from § 17.400(d)(1) and add it as part of the newly-added definition of ‘‘covered illness or condition’’ in § 17.400(b) for the purpose of improving the overall clarity of § 17.400. This is not a substantive change. We also amend § 17.400(b) to correct the spelling of the condition ‘‘Myelodysplastic syndromes,’’ which is misspelled in current § 17.400. Similarly, we amend § 17.400(b) to make the word ‘‘lymphoma’’ lower case. We make one technical change to § 17.400(c) to remove the reference to ‘‘illnesses or conditions listed in paragraph (d)(1)(i) through (xv) of this section,’’ and add in its place a reference to ‘‘covered illness or condition,’’ because this term is now defined in § 17.400(b), as explained above. We make one clarifying change to § 17.400(c). Current § 17.400(c) refers to ‘‘the veteran’s active duty in the Armed Forces’’ and ‘‘the veteran’s service,’’ but does not specifically reference the veteran’s active duty service at Camp Lejeune. We revise § 17.400(c) to state ‘‘VA will assume that a covered illness or condition is attributable to the veteran’s active duty service at Camp Lejeune unless it is clinically determined, under VA clinical practice guidelines, that such an illness or condition resulted from a cause other than such service.’’ This is not a substantive change. As we stated in the preamble to the proposed rule, ‘‘[i]n § 17.400(c), we would explain that VA would assume that a veteran who has been diagnosed with one of the 15 illnesses or conditions listed in § 17.400(d)(1)(A)–(O) has that specific condition or illness due to his or her exposure to contaminated water during service at Camp Lejeune.’’ 78 FR 55671, 55673. We make several amendments to § 17.400(d). First, we amend paragraph (d)(1) by removing the current list of covered illnesses and conditions and adding them to the definitions in § 17.400(b), as noted above. We further amend § 17.400(d)(1) to specify the dates for each cohort for the exemption from copayments for hospital care and medical services provided for a covered illness or condition. Specifically, paragraph (d)(1)(i) provides that members of the 1957 cohort are not subject to such copayments for hospital care and medical services provided on or after August 6, 2012, the date that the E:\FR\FM\18JYR1.SGM 18JYR1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES 46604 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations Act was signed by the President and became effective. This provision is unchanged from the exemption provision for these veterans in former § 17.400(d)(1). Paragraph (d)(1)(ii) provides that members of the 1953 cohort are not subject to such copayments for hospital care and medical services provided on or after December 16, 2014, the date that the Consolidated Act was signed by the President and became effective. This distinction is required because the Consolidated Act’s amendment to 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(F) changed the date of active duty service at Camp Lejeune that would qualify a veteran for hospital care and medical services based on such service; but it did not make such eligibility retroactive to the date on which the Act became effective. Accordingly, VA must limit the 1953 cohort’s eligibility for exemption from copayments to the effective date of the Consolidated Act. We also revise § 17.400(d)(2) to provide the criteria for eligibility for the 1953 and 1957 cohorts’ retroactive exemption from copayments, i.e., reimbursement of copayments previously paid to VA for hospital care and medical services for a covered illness or condition. Under paragraph (d)(2)(i), a Camp Lejeune veteran in the 1957 cohort will be reimbursed for copayments if VA provided the hospital care or medical services to the veteran on or after August 6, 2012, the date the veteran became eligible for hospital care and medical services under the Act, and the veteran requested Camp Lejeune veteran status no later than September 24, 2016, two years after the date on which § 17.400 was initially promulgated. This is not a substantive change from the retroactive exemption for these veterans in former § 17.400(d)(2). Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii), a Camp Lejeune veteran in the 1953 cohort will be reimbursed for copayments if VA provided the hospital care or medical services to the veteran on or after December 16, 2014, the date the veteran became eligible for hospital care and medical services by virtue of the Consolidated Act, and the veteran requested Camp Lejeune veteran status no later than July 18, 2018, two years after the effective date of this rule. We believe that two years will provide veterans sufficient time to learn about their new status and notify VA that they meet the requirements to be a Camp Lejeune veteran; this is the same lookback period provided to veterans in the 1957 cohort in paragraph (d)(2)(i). As in the case of exemptions from copayments, discussed above, we note VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:07 Jul 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 that veterans in the 1953 cohort are not eligible for reimbursement for copayments made before December 16, 2014, because the Consolidated Act’s amendment to 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(F) changed only the date of active duty service at Camp Lejeune that would qualify a veteran for Camp Lejeune status; it did not make such eligibility retroactive to the date of the Act. Accordingly, VA must limit the 1953 cohort’s eligibility for reimbursement of copayments to the effective date of the Consolidated Act. Effect of Rulemaking Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as revised by this final rulemaking, represents VA’s implementation of its legal authority on this subject. Other than future amendments to this regulation or governing statutes, no contrary guidance or procedures are authorized. All existing or subsequent VA guidance must be read to conform with this rulemaking if possible or, if not possible, such guidance is superseded by this rulemaking. Administrative Procedure Act The Secretary of Veterans Affairs finds under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) that there is good cause to publish this rule without prior opportunity for public comment, and under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) that there is good cause to publish this rule with an immediate effective date. This rulemaking makes clarifying, nonsubstantive changes to § 17.400 in addition to amending that regulation to incorporate a provision mandated by Congress. See Public Law 113–235. Notice and public comment is unnecessary because it could not result in any change to this provision. Further, since the public law became effective on its date of enactment, VA believes it is impracticable and contrary to law and the public interest to delay this rule for the purpose of soliciting advance public comment or to have a delayed effective date. Unfunded Mandates The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before issuing any rule that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year. This final rule will have no such effect on State, local, and tribal governments, or on the private sector. PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Paperwork Reduction Act The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (at 44 U.S.C. 3501–3507) requires that VA consider the impact of paperwork and other information collection burdens imposed on the public. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a), an agency may not collect or sponsor the collection of information, nor may it impose an information collection requirement unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. See also 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3)(vi). This final rule will impose the following amended information collection requirements. Veterans will apply for hospital care and medical services as a Camp Lejeune veteran under § 17.400 by completing VA Form 10–10EZ, ‘‘Application for Health Benefits,’’ which is required under 38 CFR 17.36(d) for all hospital care and medical services. OMB previously approved the collection of information for VA Form 10–10EZ and an amendment to that information collection, inclusion of a specific checkbox for individuals to identify themselves as meeting the requirements of being a Camp Lejeune veteran based on the required service at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987, and assigned OMB control number 2900–0091. An amendment to the checkbox is needed so that veterans can identify themselves as meeting the requirements for being a Camp Lejeune veteran based on the required service at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (at 44 U.S.C. 3507(d)), VA submitted this information collection amendment to OMB for its review. OMB approved the amended information collection requirements under existing control number 2900– 0091. Regulatory Flexibility Act The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601–12). This final rule will directly affect only individuals and will not affect any small entities. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this rulemaking is exempt from the initial and final flexibility analysis requirements of sections 603 and 604. Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563 Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory E:\FR\FM\18JYR1.SGM 18JYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations alternatives and, when regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health, and safety effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity). Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) defines a ‘‘significant regulatory action,’’ requiring review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), unless OMB waives such review, as ‘‘any regulatory action that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President’s priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive Order.’’ The economic, interagency, budgetary, legal, and policy implications of this final rule have been examined, and it has been determined not to be a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. VA’s impact analysis can be found as a supporting document at https:// www.regulations.gov, usually within 48 hours after the rulemaking document is published. Additionally, a copy of the rulemaking and its impact analysis are available on VA’s Web site at https:// www.va.gov/orpm/, by following the link for ‘‘VA Regulations Published From FY 2004 Through Fiscal Year to Date.’’ asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers and titles for the programs affected by this rule are 64.007, Blind Rehabilitation Centers; 64.008, Veterans Domiciliary Care; 64.009, Veterans Medical Care Benefits; 64.010, Veterans Nursing Home Care; 64.012, Veterans Prescription Service; 64.013, Veterans Prosthetic Appliances; 64.014, Veterans State Domiciliary Care; 64.015, Veterans State Nursing Home VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:07 Jul 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 Care; and 64.022, Veterans Home Based Primary Care. Signing Authority The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on June 30, 2016, for publication. List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 17 Administrative practice and procedure, Alcohol abuse, Alcoholism, Claims, Day care, Dental health, Drug abuse, Health care, Health facilities, Health professions, Health records, Homeless, Medical devices, Medical research, Mental health programs, Nursing homes, Veterans. Dated: June 30, 2016. Jeffrey Martin, Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs. For the reasons set forth in the supplementary information of this rulemaking, the Department of Veterans Affairs amends 38 CFR part 17 as follows: PART 17—MEDICAL 1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in specific sections. ■ 2. Revise § 17.400 to read as follows: § 17.400 Hospital care and medical services for Camp Lejeune veterans. (a) General. In accordance with this section, VA will provide hospital care and medical services to Camp Lejeune veterans. Camp Lejeune veterans will be enrolled pursuant to § 17.36(b)(6). (b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section: Camp Lejeune means any area within the borders of the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. Camp Lejeune veteran means any veteran who served at Camp Lejeune on active duty, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(21), in the Armed Forces for at least 30 (consecutive or nonconsecutive) days during the period beginning on August 1, 1953, and ending on December 31, 1987. A veteran served at Camp Lejeune if he or she was stationed at Camp Lejeune, or traveled to Camp Lejeune as part of his or her professional duties. PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 46605 Covered illness or condition means any of the following illnesses and conditions: (i) Esophageal cancer; (ii) Lung cancer; (iii) Breast cancer; (iv) Bladder cancer; (v) Kidney cancer; (vi) Leukemia; (vii) Multiple myeloma; (viii) Myelodysplastic syndromes; (ix) Renal toxicity; (x) Hepatic steatosis; (xi) Female infertility; (xii) Miscarriage; (xiii) Scleroderma; (xiv) Neurobehavioral effects; and (xv) Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. (c) Limitations. For a Camp Lejeune veteran, VA will assume that a covered illness or condition is attributable to the veteran’s active duty service at Camp Lejeune unless it is clinically determined, under VA clinical practice guidelines, that such an illness or condition resulted from a cause other than such service. (d) Copayments—(1) Exemption. (i) Camp Lejeune veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, are not subject to copayment requirements for hospital care and medical services provided for a covered illness or condition on or after August 6, 2012. (ii) Camp Lejeune veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1956, are not subject to copayment requirements for hospital care and medical services provided for a covered illness or condition on or after December 16, 2014. (2) Retroactive exemption. VA will reimburse Camp Lejeune veterans for any copayments paid to VA for hospital care and medical services provided for a covered illness or condition if either of the following is true: (i) For Camp Lejeune veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, VA provided the hospital care or medical services to the Camp Lejeune veteran on or after August 6, 2012, and the veteran requested Camp Lejeune veteran status no later than September 24, 2016; or (ii) For Camp Lejeune veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1956, VA provided the hospital care or medical services to the Camp Lejeune veteran on or after December 16, 2014, and the veteran requested Camp Lejeune veteran status no later than July 18, 2018. (The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information collection requirement in this section under control number 2900–0091.) E:\FR\FM\18JYR1.SGM 18JYR1 46606 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1710) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ means the EPA. [FR Doc. 2016–16917 Filed 7–15–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA–R06–OAR–2012–0022; FRL–9949–09– Region 6] Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Louisiana; Permitting of Greenhouse Gases Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is partially approving and partially disapproving a revision to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on December 21, 2011. This revision outlines the State’s program to regulate and permit emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the Louisiana Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. We are approving these provisions to the extent that they address the GHG permitting requirements for sources already subject to PSD for pollutants other than GHGs. We are disapproving these provisions to the extent they require PSD permitting for sources that emit only GHGs above the thresholds triggering the requirement to obtain a PSD permit since that is no longer consistent with federal law. The EPA is taking this action under section 110 and part C of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). DATES: This rule is effective on August 17, 2016. ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA–R06–OAR–2012–0022. All documents in the docket are listed on the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through https:// www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Adina Wiley, wiley.adina@epa.gov, (214) 665–2115. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:07 Jul 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 I. Background The background for this action is discussed in detail in our May 6, 2016 proposal. See 81 FR 27382. In that document we proposed to approve as revisions to the Louisiana SIP, the revisions to the Louisiana PSD permitting program submitted on December 21, 2011, that provide the State the authority to regulate and permit emissions of GHGs from Step 1 sources in the Louisiana PSD program. We also proposed to disapprove the provisions submitted on December 21, 2011, that would enable the State of Louisiana to regulate and permit Step 2 sources under the Louisiana PSD program because the submitted provisions were no longer consistent with federal laws. Our proposed action also corrected an omission in the EPA’s August 19, 2015, proposed approval of the Louisiana Major New Source Review program, where we did not explicitly propose approval of a portion of the definition of ‘‘major stationary source.’’ To correct this omission, we provided an additional opportunity for the public to comment on the revisions to the definition of ‘‘major stationary source’’ at LAC 33:III.509(B) submitted on December 20, 2005 as subparagraph (e), but was moved to subparagraph (f) in the December 21, 2011 submittal. II. Response to Comments We received comments from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). Our responses are provided below. Comment 1: The LDEQ commented that the State initiated rulemaking AQ358 on January 20, 2016, to remove the PSD GHG Step 2 permitting provisions. The rulemaking was promulgated on April 20, 2016, after no comments were received during the public comment period. Therefore, LDEQ’s PSD program no longer contains permitting requirements for Step 2 sources. The LDEQ also submitted copies of the AQ358 rulemaking for reference. Response 1: We recognize that the LDEQ has completed a rulemaking to remove the Step 2 GHG permitting provisions from the LDEQ PSD program consistent with our proposed partial disapproval. Today’s final action disapproves the Step 2 provisions that were submitted for the EPA’s consideration as a revision to the Louisiana SIP. No further actions are necessary on the part of the LDEQ to PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 remove the Step 2 provisions adopted by the LDEQ on April 20, 2011 and submitted December 21, 2011, from our consideration. Further, today’s final action also removes the portion of the Louisiana SIP at 40 CFR 52.986(c) where the EPA narrowed our approval of the Louisiana PSD SIP to apply to Step 2 permitting. See 75 FR 82536, December 30, 2010. Comment 2: The LDEQ provided comment on the EPA’s interpretation of the ‘‘automatic rescission provisions’’ under LAC 33:III.501(C)(14). Specifically, the LDEQ commented that ‘‘In the event of a ‘‘change in federal law’’ or a Supreme Court or D.C. Circuit ‘‘order which limits or renders ineffective the regulation’’ of GHGs under Part C of Title I of the Clean Air Act, LDEQ will provide notice to the general public and regulated community if such law or order will impact how LDEQ’s [sic] administers its PSD program under LAC 33:III.509. In addition, LDEQ will ensure that any such changes are consistent with EPA’s interpretation of the law or order.’’ Response 2: The EPA appreciates the comment from the LDEQ and the affirmation that the LDEQ will provide notice to the general public and community in the event of a change in federal law or a court decision that limits or renders ineffective the regulation of GHGs under the PSD program. We note that the LDEQ stated public notice would likely be through the LDEQ Web site; we find this method to be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of section 110(l) of the CAA. III. Final Action We are approving the following revisions to the Louisiana SIP submitted on December 21, 2011. The revisions were adopted and submitted in accordance with the CAA and are consistent with the laws and regulations for PSD permitting of GHGs; therefore we are taking final action to approve these revisions under section 110 and part C of the Act. • New provisions as LAC 33:III.501(C)(14) adopted on April 20, 2011 and submitted December 21, 2011; • New definitions of ‘‘carbon dioxide equivalent’’ and ‘‘greenhouse gases’’ at LAC 33:III.509(B) adopted on April 20, 2011 and submitted December 21, 2011; • Revisions to the definitions of ‘‘major stationary source’’ paragraphs (a) and (b) and ‘‘significant’’ at LAC 33:III.509(B) adopted on April 20, 2011 and submitted on December 21, 2011; and • Revisions to the definition of ‘‘major stationary source’’ paragraph (e) E:\FR\FM\18JYR1.SGM 18JYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 137 (Monday, July 18, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46603-46606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16917]



[[Page 46603]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 17

RIN 2900-AP59


Hospital Care and Medical Services for Camp Lejeune Veterans

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This document amends Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
regulations to reflect a statutory mandate that VA provide health care 
to certain veterans who served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for at 
least 30 days during the period beginning on August 1, 1953, and ending 
on December 31, 1956. The law requires VA to furnish hospital care and 
medical services for these veterans for certain illnesses and 
conditions that may be attributed to exposure to toxins in the water 
system at Camp Lejeune. This rule does not address the statutory 
provision requiring VA to provide health care to these veterans' family 
members; regulations applicable to such family members will be 
promulgated through a separate final rule.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective July 18, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bridget Souza, Deputy Director, 
Business Policy, VHA Office of Community Care (10D), Veterans Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20420, (202) 382-2537. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 6, 2012, the President signed into 
law the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune 
Families Act of 2012, Public Law 112-154 (``the Act''). Among other 
things, section 102 of the Act amended section 1710 of title 38, United 
States Code (U.S.C.), to require VA to provide hospital care and 
medical services, for certain specified illnesses and conditions, to 
veterans who served at the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, North 
Carolina (hereinafter referred to as Camp Lejeune), while on active 
duty in the Armed Forces for at least 30 days during the period 
beginning on January 1, 1957, and ending on December 31, 1987.
    On September 11, 2013, VA published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
setting forth proposed regulations to provide hospital care and medical 
services to certain veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 
days from January 1, 1957, to December 31, 1987 (``the 1957 cohort''). 
78 FR 55671-55675, Sept. 11, 2013. A final rule issuing those 
regulations was published on September 24, 2014, at 79 FR 57409-57415. 
In addition to various other provisions, the rule promulgated 38 CFR 
17.400, Hospital care and medical services for Camp Lejeune veterans.
    Subsequently, Congress passed the Consolidated and Further 
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235 (``the 
Consolidated Act''), which President Obama signed into law on December 
16, 2014. Division I, Title II, Sec.  243 of the law amended 38 U.S.C. 
1710(e)(1)(F) by striking ``January 1, 1957,'' and inserting ``August 
1, 1953.'' This added a new cohort of veterans to the group who are 
eligible for care pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(F), namely, veterans 
who served on active duty in the Armed Forces at Camp Lejeune, North 
Carolina, for not fewer than 30 days during the period from August 1, 
1953, to December 31, 1956 (the ``1953 cohort''). Although this 
rulemaking revises regulations to reflect this statutory amendment, we 
note that VA is currently providing health care to veterans in the 1953 
cohort under section 1710(e)(1)(F), as amended.
    Pursuant to the Consolidated Act, VA amends Sec.  17.400 to account 
for the change in the date that begins the period of eligibility for 
Camp Lejeune veterans to receive VA hospital care and medical services. 
Specifically, we amend the definition of ``Camp Lejeune veteran'' in 
Sec.  17.400(b) by deleting ``January 1, 1957'' and adding in its place 
``August 1, 1953.''
    Currently, Sec.  17.400(d)(2) establishes a right to retroactive 
reimbursement for the 1957 cohort for any copayments paid to VA for VA 
care provided to the veteran on and after August 6, 2012, so long as 
the veteran requests Camp Lejeune status no later than September 24, 
2016. We previously noted in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that the 
basis for limiting beginning of this retroactivity period to August 6, 
2012, was that the law authorizing Camp Lejeune benefits became 
effective on that date. We also explained in the proposed and final 
rules that the basis for the end date of September 24, 2016, was that 
it provided veterans with sufficient time (ultimately two years from 
the date that the regulation took effect) to file for retroactive 
benefits. 79 FR 57410. In this rulemaking, we are providing a similar 
retroactivity provision in Sec.  17.400(d)(2) for the new 1953 cohort.
    We further amend Sec.  17.400(b) by adding a definition for 
``covered illness or condition.'' This definition is comprised of the 
15 illnesses and conditions for which VA is required to provide 
hospital care and medical services to veterans under 38 U.S.C. 
1710(e)(1)(F). These illnesses and conditions are currently listed in 
Sec.  17.400(d)(1), which addresses exemptions from copayments. We 
remove the list of these illnesses and conditions from Sec.  
17.400(d)(1) and add it as part of the newly-added definition of 
``covered illness or condition'' in Sec.  17.400(b) for the purpose of 
improving the overall clarity of Sec.  17.400. This is not a 
substantive change. We also amend Sec.  17.400(b) to correct the 
spelling of the condition ``Myelodysplastic syndromes,'' which is 
misspelled in current Sec.  17.400. Similarly, we amend Sec.  17.400(b) 
to make the word ``lymphoma'' lower case.
    We make one technical change to Sec.  17.400(c) to remove the 
reference to ``illnesses or conditions listed in paragraph (d)(1)(i) 
through (xv) of this section,'' and add in its place a reference to 
``covered illness or condition,'' because this term is now defined in 
Sec.  17.400(b), as explained above. We make one clarifying change to 
Sec.  17.400(c). Current Sec.  17.400(c) refers to ``the veteran's 
active duty in the Armed Forces'' and ``the veteran's service,'' but 
does not specifically reference the veteran's active duty service at 
Camp Lejeune. We revise Sec.  17.400(c) to state ``VA will assume that 
a covered illness or condition is attributable to the veteran's active 
duty service at Camp Lejeune unless it is clinically determined, under 
VA clinical practice guidelines, that such an illness or condition 
resulted from a cause other than such service.'' This is not a 
substantive change. As we stated in the preamble to the proposed rule, 
``[i]n Sec.  17.400(c), we would explain that VA would assume that a 
veteran who has been diagnosed with one of the 15 illnesses or 
conditions listed in Sec.  17.400(d)(1)(A)-(O) has that specific 
condition or illness due to his or her exposure to contaminated water 
during service at Camp Lejeune.'' 78 FR 55671, 55673.
    We make several amendments to Sec.  17.400(d). First, we amend 
paragraph (d)(1) by removing the current list of covered illnesses and 
conditions and adding them to the definitions in Sec.  17.400(b), as 
noted above.
    We further amend Sec.  17.400(d)(1) to specify the dates for each 
cohort for the exemption from copayments for hospital care and medical 
services provided for a covered illness or condition. Specifically, 
paragraph (d)(1)(i) provides that members of the 1957 cohort are not 
subject to such copayments for hospital care and medical services 
provided on or after August 6, 2012, the date that the

[[Page 46604]]

Act was signed by the President and became effective. This provision is 
unchanged from the exemption provision for these veterans in former 
Sec.  17.400(d)(1). Paragraph (d)(1)(ii) provides that members of the 
1953 cohort are not subject to such copayments for hospital care and 
medical services provided on or after December 16, 2014, the date that 
the Consolidated Act was signed by the President and became effective. 
This distinction is required because the Consolidated Act's amendment 
to 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(F) changed the date of active duty service at 
Camp Lejeune that would qualify a veteran for hospital care and medical 
services based on such service; but it did not make such eligibility 
retroactive to the date on which the Act became effective. Accordingly, 
VA must limit the 1953 cohort's eligibility for exemption from 
copayments to the effective date of the Consolidated Act.
    We also revise Sec.  17.400(d)(2) to provide the criteria for 
eligibility for the 1953 and 1957 cohorts' retroactive exemption from 
copayments, i.e., reimbursement of copayments previously paid to VA for 
hospital care and medical services for a covered illness or condition. 
Under paragraph (d)(2)(i), a Camp Lejeune veteran in the 1957 cohort 
will be reimbursed for copayments if VA provided the hospital care or 
medical services to the veteran on or after August 6, 2012, the date 
the veteran became eligible for hospital care and medical services 
under the Act, and the veteran requested Camp Lejeune veteran status no 
later than September 24, 2016, two years after the date on which Sec.  
17.400 was initially promulgated. This is not a substantive change from 
the retroactive exemption for these veterans in former Sec.  
17.400(d)(2).
    Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii), a Camp Lejeune veteran in the 1953 
cohort will be reimbursed for copayments if VA provided the hospital 
care or medical services to the veteran on or after December 16, 2014, 
the date the veteran became eligible for hospital care and medical 
services by virtue of the Consolidated Act, and the veteran requested 
Camp Lejeune veteran status no later than July 18, 2018, two years 
after the effective date of this rule. We believe that two years will 
provide veterans sufficient time to learn about their new status and 
notify VA that they meet the requirements to be a Camp Lejeune veteran; 
this is the same look-back period provided to veterans in the 1957 
cohort in paragraph (d)(2)(i). As in the case of exemptions from 
copayments, discussed above, we note that veterans in the 1953 cohort 
are not eligible for reimbursement for copayments made before December 
16, 2014, because the Consolidated Act's amendment to 38 U.S.C. 
1710(e)(1)(F) changed only the date of active duty service at Camp 
Lejeune that would qualify a veteran for Camp Lejeune status; it did 
not make such eligibility retroactive to the date of the Act. 
Accordingly, VA must limit the 1953 cohort's eligibility for 
reimbursement of copayments to the effective date of the Consolidated 
Act.

Effect of Rulemaking

    Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as revised by this 
final rulemaking, represents VA's implementation of its legal authority 
on this subject. Other than future amendments to this regulation or 
governing statutes, no contrary guidance or procedures are authorized. 
All existing or subsequent VA guidance must be read to conform with 
this rulemaking if possible or, if not possible, such guidance is 
superseded by this rulemaking.

Administrative Procedure Act

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs finds under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) 
that there is good cause to publish this rule without prior opportunity 
for public comment, and under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) that there is good 
cause to publish this rule with an immediate effective date. This 
rulemaking makes clarifying, non-substantive changes to Sec.  17.400 in 
addition to amending that regulation to incorporate a provision 
mandated by Congress. See Public Law 113-235. Notice and public comment 
is unnecessary because it could not result in any change to this 
provision. Further, since the public law became effective on its date 
of enactment, VA believes it is impracticable and contrary to law and 
the public interest to delay this rule for the purpose of soliciting 
advance public comment or to have a delayed effective date.

Unfunded Mandates

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 
1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and 
benefits before issuing any rule that may result in the expenditure by 
State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for 
inflation) in any one year. This final rule will have no such effect on 
State, local, and tribal governments, or on the private sector.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (at 44 U.S.C. 3501-3507) 
requires that VA consider the impact of paperwork and other information 
collection burdens imposed on the public. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a), an 
agency may not collect or sponsor the collection of information, nor 
may it impose an information collection requirement unless it displays 
a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. 
See also 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3)(vi).
    This final rule will impose the following amended information 
collection requirements. Veterans will apply for hospital care and 
medical services as a Camp Lejeune veteran under Sec.  17.400 by 
completing VA Form 10-10EZ, ``Application for Health Benefits,'' which 
is required under 38 CFR 17.36(d) for all hospital care and medical 
services. OMB previously approved the collection of information for VA 
Form 10-10EZ and an amendment to that information collection, inclusion 
of a specific checkbox for individuals to identify themselves as 
meeting the requirements of being a Camp Lejeune veteran based on the 
required service at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987, and assigned 
OMB control number 2900-0091. An amendment to the checkbox is needed so 
that veterans can identify themselves as meeting the requirements for 
being a Camp Lejeune veteran based on the required service at Camp 
Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. As required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (at 44 U.S.C. 3507(d)), VA 
submitted this information collection amendment to OMB for its review. 
OMB approved the amended information collection requirements under 
existing control number 2900-0091.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-
12). This final rule will directly affect only individuals and will not 
affect any small entities. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this 
rulemaking is exempt from the initial and final flexibility analysis 
requirements of sections 603 and 604.

Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of available regulatory

[[Page 46605]]

alternatives and, when regulation is necessary, to select regulatory 
approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, 
environmental, public health, and safety effects, and other advantages; 
distributive impacts; and equity). Executive Order 13563 (Improving 
Regulation and Regulatory Review) emphasizes the importance of 
quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, 
and promoting flexibility. Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning 
and Review) defines a ``significant regulatory action,'' requiring 
review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), unless OMB waives 
such review, as ``any regulatory action that is likely to result in a 
rule that may: (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million 
or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of 
the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or 
communities; (2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere 
with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) Materially alter 
the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan 
programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) 
Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the 
President's priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive 
Order.''
    The economic, interagency, budgetary, legal, and policy 
implications of this final rule have been examined, and it has been 
determined not to be a significant regulatory action under Executive 
Order 12866. VA's impact analysis can be found as a supporting document 
at https://www.regulations.gov, usually within 48 hours after the 
rulemaking document is published. Additionally, a copy of the 
rulemaking and its impact analysis are available on VA's Web site at 
https://www.va.gov/orpm/, by following the link for ``VA Regulations 
Published From FY 2004 Through Fiscal Year to Date.''

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers and titles for 
the programs affected by this rule are 64.007, Blind Rehabilitation 
Centers; 64.008, Veterans Domiciliary Care; 64.009, Veterans Medical 
Care Benefits; 64.010, Veterans Nursing Home Care; 64.012, Veterans 
Prescription Service; 64.013, Veterans Prosthetic Appliances; 64.014, 
Veterans State Domiciliary Care; 64.015, Veterans State Nursing Home 
Care; and 64.022, Veterans Home Based Primary Care.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. 
Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on June 30, 2016, for publication.

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 17

    Administrative practice and procedure, Alcohol abuse, Alcoholism, 
Claims, Day care, Dental health, Drug abuse, Health care, Health 
facilities, Health professions, Health records, Homeless, Medical 
devices, Medical research, Mental health programs, Nursing homes, 
Veterans.

    Dated: June 30, 2016.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, 
Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.

    For the reasons set forth in the supplementary information of this 
rulemaking, the Department of Veterans Affairs amends 38 CFR part 17 as 
follows:

PART 17--MEDICAL

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in specific sections.


0
2. Revise Sec.  17.400 to read as follows:


Sec.  17.400  Hospital care and medical services for Camp Lejeune 
veterans.

    (a) General. In accordance with this section, VA will provide 
hospital care and medical services to Camp Lejeune veterans. Camp 
Lejeune veterans will be enrolled pursuant to Sec.  17.36(b)(6).
    (b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
    Camp Lejeune means any area within the borders of the U.S. Marine 
Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River, North 
Carolina.
    Camp Lejeune veteran means any veteran who served at Camp Lejeune 
on active duty, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(21), in the Armed Forces 
for at least 30 (consecutive or nonconsecutive) days during the period 
beginning on August 1, 1953, and ending on December 31, 1987. A veteran 
served at Camp Lejeune if he or she was stationed at Camp Lejeune, or 
traveled to Camp Lejeune as part of his or her professional duties.
    Covered illness or condition means any of the following illnesses 
and conditions:
    (i) Esophageal cancer;
    (ii) Lung cancer;
    (iii) Breast cancer;
    (iv) Bladder cancer;
    (v) Kidney cancer;
    (vi) Leukemia;
    (vii) Multiple myeloma;
    (viii) Myelodysplastic syndromes;
    (ix) Renal toxicity;
    (x) Hepatic steatosis;
    (xi) Female infertility;
    (xii) Miscarriage;
    (xiii) Scleroderma;
    (xiv) Neurobehavioral effects; and
    (xv) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
    (c) Limitations. For a Camp Lejeune veteran, VA will assume that a 
covered illness or condition is attributable to the veteran's active 
duty service at Camp Lejeune unless it is clinically determined, under 
VA clinical practice guidelines, that such an illness or condition 
resulted from a cause other than such service.
    (d) Copayments--(1) Exemption. (i) Camp Lejeune veterans who served 
at Camp Lejeune between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, are not 
subject to copayment requirements for hospital care and medical 
services provided for a covered illness or condition on or after August 
6, 2012.
    (ii) Camp Lejeune veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between 
August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1956, are not subject to copayment 
requirements for hospital care and medical services provided for a 
covered illness or condition on or after December 16, 2014.
    (2) Retroactive exemption. VA will reimburse Camp Lejeune veterans 
for any copayments paid to VA for hospital care and medical services 
provided for a covered illness or condition if either of the following 
is true:
    (i) For Camp Lejeune veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between 
January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, VA provided the hospital care 
or medical services to the Camp Lejeune veteran on or after August 6, 
2012, and the veteran requested Camp Lejeune veteran status no later 
than September 24, 2016; or
    (ii) For Camp Lejeune veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between 
August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1956, VA provided the hospital care or 
medical services to the Camp Lejeune veteran on or after December 16, 
2014, and the veteran requested Camp Lejeune veteran status no later 
than July 18, 2018.
    (The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information 
collection requirement in this section under control number 2900-0091.)

[[Page 46606]]


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1710)


[FR Doc. 2016-16917 Filed 7-15-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.