VA Dental Insurance Program, 16287-16288 [2017-06579]

Download as PDF 16287 Rules and Regulations Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 63 Tuesday, April 4, 2017 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510. The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 17 RIN 2900–AP91 VA Dental Insurance Program Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: This document revises Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical regulations to reflect the codification of the authority for the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), a program through which VA contracts with private dental insurers to offer premium-based dental insurance to enrolled veterans and certain survivors and dependents of veterans. The VA Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016 codified the authority of the VADIP, and this final rulemaking accordingly revises the authority citation in the VA medical regulations that implement VADIP. DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective April 4, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bridget Souza, Deputy Director, Business Policy, Office of Community Care (10D), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 382–2537. (This is not a toll-free number.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 510 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, Public Law 111–163, required VA to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing a dental insurance plan to veterans and certain survivors and dependents of veterans, known as the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). Under VADIP and as required by law, VA contracts with private insurers to offer the dental insurance, and the private insurer is then responsible for the actual administration of the dental insurance nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:40 Apr 03, 2017 Jkt 241001 plans and the provision of dental benefits. VA’s role under VADIP is primarily to form the contract with the private insurer and to verify the eligibility of veterans, survivors, and dependents. VA establishes VADIP criteria related to eligibility, benefits, enrollment, and other program elements as required by law, in 38 CFR 17.169 (78 FR 32126, 79 FR 62441). The VA Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016, Public Law 114–218, codified the VADIP authority at 38 U.S.C. 1712C and established a sunset date for VADIP of December 31, 2021. Public Law 114–218 did not otherwise make any substantive changes to the VADIP established in section 510 of Public Law 111–163 and implemented in 38 CFR 17.169. Therefore, the only regulatory change required by Public Law 114–218 is the revision of the authority citation for § 17.169 to read 38 U.S.C. 1712C, and we make this revision in this final rule. While we recognize that the authority to operate the VADIP expires on December 31, 2021, we do not revise § 17.169 to include this date. 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 VA Secretary 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 a non-substantive change to update the authority citation for 38 CFR 17.169 (Pub. L. 114–218). Notice and public comment are unnecessary because they could not result in any change to this provision. Further, since Public Law 114–218 became effective on its date of enactment and is already in effect, VA PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 finds good cause to make this change effective on the date of its publication. 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 (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 (5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3)(vi)). This action contains no new or revised collections of information. Regulatory Flexibility Act The VA 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 merely updates the authority citation for 38 CFR 17.169; it does not revise any substantive criteria in the regulation, and this rulemaking will not affect any small entities. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this rulemaking is exempt from the regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of section 604. Executive Order 13563 and Executive Order 12866 Executive Orders 13563 and 12866 direct agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory 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) E:\FR\FM\04APR1.SGM 04APR1 16288 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 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 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.’’ Dated: March 30, 2017. Janet Coleman, Chief, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance AGENCY: The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers and titles for the programs affected by this rule are 64.009 Veterans Medical Care Benefits and 64.011 Veterans Dental Care. nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES 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 March 29, 2017, for publication. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:40 Apr 03, 2017 Jkt 241001 List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 17 Administrative practice and procedure, Dental health, Government contracts, Health care, Health professions, Health records, Veterans. 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 is amended by adding an entry for § 17.169 in numerical order to read in part as follows: ■ Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in specific sections. * * * * * Section 17.169 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1712C. * * * § 17.169 * * [Amended] 2. Amend § 17.169 by removing the sectional authority citation. ■ [FR Doc. 2017–06579 Filed 4–3–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 46 CFR Parts 530 and 531 [Docket No. 16–05] RIN 3072–AC53 Amendments to Regulations Governing Service Contracts and NVOCC Service Arrangements ACTION: Federal Maritime Commission. Final rule. The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or Commission) amends its rules governing Service Contracts and NVOCC Service Arrangements. The rule is intended to update and modernize the Commission’s regulations and reduce the regulatory burden. DATES: Effective Date: May 5, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions, contact: Florence A. Carr, Director, Bureau of Trade Analysis, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573–0001. Phone: (202) 523–5796. Email: TradeAnalysis@fmc.gov. For legal SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 questions, contact: Tyler J. Wood, General Counsel, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573–0001. Phone: (202) 523–5740. Email: GeneralCounsel@fmc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background In 1984, Congress passed the Shipping Act of 1984 (the Shipping Act or the Act), 46 U.S.C. 40101 et seq., which introduced the concept of carriage under service contracts filed with the Federal Maritime Commission. The pricing of liner services via negotiated contracts, rather than exclusively by public tariffs, was a change that had profound effects on the liner industry. FMC regulations require all ocean freight rates, surcharges, and accessorial charges in liner trades be published in ocean common carrier tariffs or agreed to in service contracts filed with the Commission. Contemporaneous with the filing of service contracts, carriers are also required to make available to the public a concise statement of essential terms in tariff format. In 1998, Congress passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), amending the Shipping Act of 1984 relating to service contracts. To facilitate compliance and minimize the filing burdens on the oceanborne commerce of the United States, service contracts and amendments effective after April 30, 1999, are required by FMC regulations to be filed with the Commission in electronic format. This eliminated the regulatory burden of filing in paper format, thereby saving ocean carriers both time and money. In addition, OSRA reduced the essential terms that had to be made publicly available.1 Service contracts and amendments continue to be filed in the Commission’s electronic filing system, SERVCON. In 2005, the Commission issued a rule exempting non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) from certain tariff publication requirements of the Shipping Act, pursuant to section 16 of the Shipping Act, 46 U.S.C. 40103. 69 FR 75850 (Dec. 20, 2004) (final rule). Under the exemption, NVOCCs are relieved from certain Shipping Act tariff requirements, provided that the carriage in question is performed pursuant to an NVOCC Service Arrangement (NSA) 1 Prior to OSRA, contract rates were published in the essential terms tariff publication, thereby allowing similarly situated shippers to request and obtain similar terms. In enacting OSRA, Congress limited the essential terms publication to the following terms: The origin and destination port ranges, the commodities, the minimum volume or portion, and the duration. E:\FR\FM\04APR1.SGM 04APR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 4, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16287-16288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06579]



========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 4, 2017 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 16287]]



DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 17

RIN 2900-AP91


VA Dental Insurance Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This document revises Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
medical regulations to reflect the codification of the authority for 
the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), a program through which VA 
contracts with private dental insurers to offer premium-based dental 
insurance to enrolled veterans and certain survivors and dependents of 
veterans. The VA Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016 codified 
the authority of the VADIP, and this final rulemaking accordingly 
revises the authority citation in the VA medical regulations that 
implement VADIP.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective April 4, 2017.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 510 of the Caregivers and Veterans 
Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, Public Law 111-163, required VA to 
carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of 
providing a dental insurance plan to veterans and certain survivors and 
dependents of veterans, known as the VA Dental Insurance Program 
(VADIP). Under VADIP and as required by law, VA contracts with private 
insurers to offer the dental insurance, and the private insurer is then 
responsible for the actual administration of the dental insurance plans 
and the provision of dental benefits. VA's role under VADIP is 
primarily to form the contract with the private insurer and to verify 
the eligibility of veterans, survivors, and dependents. VA establishes 
VADIP criteria related to eligibility, benefits, enrollment, and other 
program elements as required by law, in 38 CFR 17.169 (78 FR 32126, 79 
FR 62441).
    The VA Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016, Public Law 
114-218, codified the VADIP authority at 38 U.S.C. 1712C and 
established a sunset date for VADIP of December 31, 2021. Public Law 
114-218 did not otherwise make any substantive changes to the VADIP 
established in section 510 of Public Law 111-163 and implemented in 38 
CFR 17.169. Therefore, the only regulatory change required by Public 
Law 114-218 is the revision of the authority citation for Sec.  17.169 
to read 38 U.S.C. 1712C, and we make this revision in this final rule. 
While we recognize that the authority to operate the VADIP expires on 
December 31, 2021, we do not revise Sec.  17.169 to include this date.

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 VA Secretary 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 a non-substantive change to update the authority citation for 38 
CFR 17.169 (Pub. L. 114-218). Notice and public comment are unnecessary 
because they could not result in any change to this provision. Further, 
since Public Law 114-218 became effective on its date of enactment and 
is already in effect, VA finds good cause to make this change effective 
on the date of its publication.

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 (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 
(5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3)(vi)). This action contains no new or revised 
collections of information.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The VA 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 merely updates the authority citation 
for 38 CFR 17.169; it does not revise any substantive criteria in the 
regulation, and this rulemaking will not affect any small entities. 
Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this rulemaking is exempt from 
the regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of section 604.

Executive Order 13563 and Executive Order 12866

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

[[Page 16288]]

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 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 64.009 Veterans Medical Care 
Benefits and 64.011 Veterans Dental 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 March 29, 2017, for publication.

    Dated: March 30, 2017.
Janet Coleman,
Chief, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 17

    Administrative practice and procedure, Dental health, Government 
contracts, Health care, Health professions, Health records, Veterans.

    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 is amended by adding an entry for 
Sec.  17.169 in numerical order to read in part as follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in specific sections.
* * * * *
    Section 17.169 also issued under 38 U.S.C. 1712C.
* * * * *


Sec.  17.169  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  17.169 by removing the sectional authority citation.

[FR Doc. 2017-06579 Filed 4-3-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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