Extension of Pharmacy Copayments for Medications, 21118-21119 [2017-09081]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
This notice of enforcement is issued
under authority of 33 CFR 100.501(f)
and 5 U.S.C. 552(a). In addition to this
notice of enforcement in the Federal
Register, the Coast Guard will provide
notification of this enforcement period
via Local Notice to Mariners and marine
information broadcasts.
Dated: May 1, 2017.
Lonnie P. Harrison, Jr.,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the
Port Maryland-National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 2017–09162 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG–2016–1038]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation;
Harlem River, New York, NY
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of deviation from
drawbridge regulation; modification.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard has modified
a temporary deviation from the
operating schedule that governs the
125th Street (Triborough) Bridge across
the Harlem River, mile 1.3, at New York,
NY. This modified deviation extends
the period the bridge may remain in the
closed-to-navigation position and is
necessary to facilitate rehabilitation of
the mechanical and electrical
components of the bridge.
DATES: This modified deviation is
effective from 12:01 a.m. May 16, 2017
to 11:59 p.m. June 19, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this
deviation, USCG–2016–1038 is available
at https://www.regulations.gov. Type the
docket number in the ‘‘SEARCH’’ box
and click ‘‘SEARCH’’. Click on Open
Docket Folder on the line associated
with this deviation.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this temporary
deviation, call or email Judy Leung-Yee,
Project Officer, First Coast Guard
District, telephone (212) 514–4330,
email judy.k.leung-yee@uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
December 22, 2016, the Coast Guard
published a temporary deviation
entitled ‘‘Drawbridge Operation
Regulation; Harlem River, New York,
New York’’ in the Federal Register (81
FR 93820). That temporary deviation
allows the bridge to be in the closed
position from January 17, 2016 through
May 15, 2017. The bridge owner,
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
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Triborough Bridge and Tunnel
Authority (TBTA), has requested a
modification of the currently published
deviation to extend the bridge closure
from May 15, 2017 to June 19, 2017 in
order to facilitate rehabilitation of the
mechanical and electrical components
of the bridge.
The 125th Street Bridge, mile 1.3,
across the Harlem River, has a vertical
clearance in the closed position of 54
feet at mean high water and 59 feet at
mean low water. The existing bridge
operating regulations are found at 33
CFR 117.789(b)(1).
Although the waterway is transited by
commercial tugs, barges and
recreational vessels, there have been no
requests for bridge openings in the past
two years. The Coast Guard notified
known companies of the commercial
vessels that transit the area, the NYPD,
and the FDNY; there were no objections
to this temporary deviation
modification.
Under this temporary deviation
modification, the 125th Street Bridge
may remain in the closed position from
May 16, 2017 to June 19, 2017. Vessels
able to pass under the bridge in the
closed position may do so at any time.
The bridge will not be able to open for
emergencies and there is an alternate
route for vessels to pass.
The Coast Guard will inform the users
of the waterways through our Local
Notice and Broadcast to Mariners of the
change in operating schedule for the
bridge so that vessel operations can
arrange their transits to minimize any
impact caused by the temporary
deviation.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e),
the drawbridge must return to its regular
operating schedule immediately at the
end of the effective period of this
temporary deviation. This deviation
from the operating regulations is
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
Dated: April 20, 2017.
C.J. Bisignano,
Supervisory Bridge Management Specialist,
First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017–09159 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 17
RIN 2900–AP87
Extension of Pharmacy Copayments
for Medications
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Resolution of interim final rule.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) notifies the public that an
interim final rule freezing medication
copayments for veterans in priority
groups 2 through 8, published on
December 7, 2016, was superseded by a
final rule amending its regulations
concerning copayments that published
on December 12, 2016. The interim final
rule received no public comments.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule is
effective on May 5, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bridget Souza, 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: On
December 7, 2016, VA published an
interim final rule, RIN 2900–AP87—
Copayments for Medications in 2017
(AP87), at 81 FR 88120, extending the
medication copayment freeze through
February 26, 2017. We did so in
anticipation of publishing a separate
final rule, RIN 2900–AP35—
Copayments for Medications Beginning
January 1, 2017 (AP35), which
published December 12, 2016, at 81 FR
89390, implementing a tiered
medication copayment regime with an
effective date of February 27, 2017.
Failure to extend the medication
copayment freeze with the interim final
rule would have subjected affected
veterans to a short term, but significant,
increase in the amount of medication
copayments based on the prescription
drug component of the Medical
Consumer Price Index (CPI–P) per 38
CFR 17.110(b)(1)(iii). In addition,
affected veterans in priority groups 2
through 6 would have been subject to an
increase in the annual cap on the total
amount of copayments.
The interim final rule, AP87,
provided a 60-day period during which
the public could submit comments. The
comment period closed on February 6,
2017, and we received no comments.
As previously mentioned, on
December 12, 2016, VA published a
final rule, AP35, at 81 FR 89390. This
final rule established a tiered
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
medication copayment system, effective
February 27, 2017. Under AP35, the
new regulatory formula, focuses on the
type of medication being prescribed and
removes the automatic escalator
provision, meaning that changes in
copayments would only occur through
subsequent rulemakings. Veterans
exempt by law from copayments under
38 U.S.C. 1722A(a)(3) continue to be
exempt. Three classes of medications
were established for copayment
purposes: Tier 1 medications, Tier 2
medications, and Tier 3 medications.
Tiers 1 and 2 includes multi-source
medications, a term that is defined in
§ 17.110(b)(1)(iv). Tier 3 includes
medications that retain patent
protection and exclusivity and are not
multi-source medications. Copayment
amounts vary depending upon the Tier
in which the medication is classified. A
30-day or less supply of Tier 1
medications has a copayment of $5. For
Tier 2 medications, the copayment is $8,
and for Tier 3 medications, the
copayment is $11. The rule also
changed the annual cap for medication
copayments, lowering the cap to $700
for all veterans who are required to pay
medication copayments.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This resolution contains no
provisions constituting a collection of
information under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–
3521).
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 April 28,
2017, for publication.
Dated: May 2, 2017.
Janet Coleman,
Chief, Office of Regulation Policy &
Management, Office of the Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
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[FR Doc. 2017–09081 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 17
RIN 2900–AO79
Payment or Reimbursement for Certain
Medical Expenses for Camp Lejeune
Family Members
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Final rule.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) adopts as final an interim
final rule addressing payment or
reimbursement of certain medical
expenses for family members of Camp
Lejeune veterans. Under this rule, VA
reimburses family members, or pays
providers, for medical expenses
incurred as a result of certain illnesses
and conditions that may be associated
with contaminants present in the base
water supply at U.S. Marine Corps Base
Camp Lejeune (Camp Lejeune), North
Carolina, from August 1, 1953, to
December 31, 1987. Payment or
reimbursement is made within the
limitations set forth in statute and Camp
Lejeune family members receive
hospital care and medical services that
are consistent with the manner in which
we provide hospital care and medical
services to Camp Lejeune veterans. The
statutory authority has since been
amended to also include certain
veterans’ family members who resided
at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for no
less than 30 days (consecutive or
nonconsecutive) between August 1,
1953, and December 31, 1987. This final
rule will reflect that statutory change
and will address public comments
received in response to the interim final
rule.
DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is
effective May 5, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karyn Barrett, Director, Program
Administration Directorate, Chief
Business Office Purchased Care
(10NB3), Veterans Health
Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20420, (303) 331–7500.
(This is not a toll-free number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
September 24, 2014, VA published an
interim final rule to implement 38
U.S.C. 1787, which was created by
section 102 of the Honoring America’s
Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune
Families Act of 2012, Public Law 112–
154 (the Act). 79 FR 57415–57421, Sept.
24, 2014. The Act requires VA to
reimburse family members of Camp
Lejeune veterans, or pay providers,
SUMMARY:
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21119
when they have exhausted all claims
and remedies against a third party for
payment of medical care for any of the
15 specified illnesses and conditions.
We received a total of 14 comments.
One commenter fully supported the
interim final rule and did not suggest
any changes to it. Several comments
related to provisions of 38 CFR 17.400,
the regulation governing hospital care
and medical services for Camp Lejeune
veterans and coverage for certain
illnesses or conditions. That regulation
was the subject of a separate
rulemaking. See 81 FR 46603–46606
(July 18, 2016). Three comments
expressed general dissatisfaction with
the interim final rule but neither
opposed a specific provision of the
regulation nor suggested how the
regulation should be changed. As a
result, these comments do not address
any matter to which VA can respond
and so will not be addressed here.
All of the issues raised by other
commenters that criticized at least one
portion of the rule can be grouped
together by similar topic, and we have
organized our discussion of the
comments accordingly.
Concerns Over Covered Illnesses or
Conditions
Several commenters referenced
medical conditions that are not listed in
the definition of covered illness or
condition in 38 CFR 17.400(b). One
commenter suggested that the
reimbursement provisions of § 17.410
should apply to all illnesses or defects
that science has shown were caused by
exposure to the chemicals in the Camp
Lejeune water supply. However, 38
U.S.C. 1787 limits payment or
reimbursement for hospital care and
medical services for Camp Lejeune
family members to the 15 covered
illnesses and conditions specified in 38
U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(F). VA does not have
the authority to expand the payment or
reimbursement provisions of 38 U.S.C.
1787 beyond those specified in the
statute. We therefore make no changes
in the final rule.
One commenter expressed concern
that the regulation identified the 15
statutory covered illnesses and
conditions but also noted the reference,
found in the preamble to the interim
final rule, 79 FR at 57417, to VA’s intent
to consider any newly available science.
The comment suggests that newly
available science might identify other
illnesses or conditions caused by
exposure to the contaminated water at
Camp Lejeune and thus expand the list
of covered illnesses and conditions.
However, as stated in the interim final
rule, 79 FR at 57417, any such science
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21118-21119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09081]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 17
RIN 2900-AP87
Extension of Pharmacy Copayments for Medications
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Resolution of interim final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notifies the public
that an interim final rule freezing medication copayments for veterans
in priority groups 2 through 8, published on December 7, 2016, was
superseded by a final rule amending its regulations concerning
copayments that published on December 12, 2016. The interim final rule
received no public comments.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective on May 5, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bridget Souza, 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: On December 7, 2016, VA published an interim
final rule, RIN 2900-AP87--Copayments for Medications in 2017 (AP87),
at 81 FR 88120, extending the medication copayment freeze through
February 26, 2017. We did so in anticipation of publishing a separate
final rule, RIN 2900-AP35--Copayments for Medications Beginning January
1, 2017 (AP35), which published December 12, 2016, at 81 FR 89390,
implementing a tiered medication copayment regime with an effective
date of February 27, 2017. Failure to extend the medication copayment
freeze with the interim final rule would have subjected affected
veterans to a short term, but significant, increase in the amount of
medication copayments based on the prescription drug component of the
Medical Consumer Price Index (CPI-P) per 38 CFR 17.110(b)(1)(iii). In
addition, affected veterans in priority groups 2 through 6 would have
been subject to an increase in the annual cap on the total amount of
copayments.
The interim final rule, AP87, provided a 60-day period during which
the public could submit comments. The comment period closed on February
6, 2017, and we received no comments.
As previously mentioned, on December 12, 2016, VA published a final
rule, AP35, at 81 FR 89390. This final rule established a tiered
[[Page 21119]]
medication copayment system, effective February 27, 2017. Under AP35,
the new regulatory formula, focuses on the type of medication being
prescribed and removes the automatic escalator provision, meaning that
changes in copayments would only occur through subsequent rulemakings.
Veterans exempt by law from copayments under 38 U.S.C. 1722A(a)(3)
continue to be exempt. Three classes of medications were established
for copayment purposes: Tier 1 medications, Tier 2 medications, and
Tier 3 medications. Tiers 1 and 2 includes multi-source medications, a
term that is defined in Sec. [thinsp]17.110(b)(1)(iv). Tier 3 includes
medications that retain patent protection and exclusivity and are not
multi-source medications. Copayment amounts vary depending upon the
Tier in which the medication is classified. A 30-day or less supply of
Tier 1 medications has a copayment of $5. For Tier 2 medications, the
copayment is $8, and for Tier 3 medications, the copayment is $11. The
rule also changed the annual cap for medication copayments, lowering
the cap to $700 for all veterans who are required to pay medication
copayments.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This resolution contains no provisions constituting a collection of
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3521).
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 April 28, 2017, for publication.
Dated: May 2, 2017.
Janet Coleman,
Chief, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-09081 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
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