Notice of Request for Information on the Department of Veterans Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), 60966-60968 [2018-25763]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 27, 2018 / Notices
Veterans Health Administration, Office
of Telehealth, Office of Policy &
Planning, Million Veteran Program, and
Women’s Health Services. On December
13, the Committee will receive briefings
and updates from the Office of Diversity
& Inclusion, Leadership Development
Programs, Ex-Officios Update and hold
an exit briefing with VBA, VHA and
NCA. The Committee will receive
public comments from 10:00 a.m. to
10:15 a.m. After the Leadership Exit
Briefing, the Committee will continue to
work on their report.
A sign-in sheet for those who want to
give comments will be available at the
meeting. Individuals who speak are
invited to submit a 1–2 page summary
of their comments at the time of the
meeting for inclusion in the official
meeting record. Members of the public
may also submit written statements for
the Committee’s review to Ms. Juanita
Mullen, Department of Veterans Affairs,
Center for Minority Veterans (00M), 810
Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20420, or email at Juanita.Mullen@
va.gov. Because the meeting will be in
a Government building, anyone
attending must be prepared to show a
valid photo ID for checking in. Please
allow 15 minutes before the meeting
begins for this process. Any member of
the public wishing to attend or seeking
additional information should contact
Ms. Mullen or Mr. Dwayne Campbell at
(202) 461–6191 or by fax at (202) 273–
7092.
Dated: November 21, 2018.
Jelessa M. Burney,
Federal Advisory Committee Management
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–25783 Filed 11–26–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Notice of Request for Information on
the Department of Veterans Affairs
Program of Comprehensive Assistance
for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Request for information.
AGENCY:
The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is requesting information
regarding its Program of Comprehensive
Assistance for Family Caregivers
(PCAFC). This notice requests
information and comments from
interested parties on certain
requirements of the John S. McCain III,
Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson
VA Maintaining Internal Systems and
Strengthening Integrated Outside
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:45 Nov 26, 2018
Jkt 247001
Networks Act of 2018 or the VA
MISSION Act of 2018 related to PCAFC.
DATES: Comments are due by December
12, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
submitted through https://
www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand
delivery to the Director, Office of
Regulation Policy and Management
(00REG), Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420; or
by fax to (202) 273–9026 (this is not a
toll-free number). Comments should
indicate that they are submitted in
response to ‘‘Notice of Request for
Information on the Department of
Veterans Affairs Program of
Comprehensive Assistance for Family
Caregivers (PCAFC).’’ Copies of
comments received will be available for
public inspection in the Office of
Regulation Policy and Management
(00REG), Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420,
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday (except
Federal holidays). Please call (202) 461–
4902 for an appointment (this is not a
toll-free number). During the comment
period, comments may also be viewed
online through the Federal Docket
Management System at
www.Regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Margaret Kabat, National Director,
Caregiver Support Program (10P4C),
Veterans Health Administration,
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20420, (202) 461–6780 (this is not a tollfree number), Margaret.Kabat@va.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Program of Comprehensive Assistance
for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) was
established by title I of Public Law (Pub.
L.) 111–163, Caregivers and Veterans
Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010,
and is codified in section 1720G(a) of
title 38 of the United States Code
(U.S.C.). VA has been administering
PCAFC continuously since May 5, 2011,
and has implemented this program
through its regulations in Part 71 of title
38 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR). Through PCAFC, VA provides
family caregivers of eligible veterans
and servicemembers (as defined in 38
CFR 71.20) certain benefits, such as
training, respite care, counseling,
technical support, beneficiary travel (to
attend required caregiver training and
for an eligible veteran’s medical
appointments), a monthly stipend
payment, and access to health care (if
qualified) through the Civilian Health
and Medical Program of the Department
PO 00000
Frm 00146
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) 38
U.S.C. 1720G(a)(3), 38 CFR 71.40. For
the purposes of this notice, the term
veteran includes servicemembers who
apply for or participate in PCAFC.
PCAFC is currently available to family
caregivers of eligible veterans who
incurred or aggravated a serious injury
(including traumatic brain injury,
psychological trauma, or other mental
disorder) in the line of duty in the active
military, naval, or air service on or after
September 11, 2001. 38 U.S.C.
1720G(a)(2)(B). On June 6, 2018, the
John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and
Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining
Internal Systems and Strengthening
Integrated Outside Networks Act of
2018 or the VA MISSION Act of 2018
(‘‘MISSION Act’’), Public Law 115–182,
was signed into law. Section 161 of the
MISSION Act amended 38 U.S.C. 1720G
to expand eligibility for PCAFC to
family caregivers of eligible veterans
who incurred or aggravated a serious
injury in the line of duty before
September 11, 2001, establish new
benefits for designated primary family
caregivers of eligible veterans, and make
other changes affecting program
eligibility and VA’s evaluation of
PCAFC applications. The expansion of
PCFAC to family caregivers of eligible
veterans who incurred or aggravated a
serious injury in the line of duty before
September 11, 2001, will occur in two
phases, the first of which will begin
when VA certifies to Congress that it has
fully implemented a required
information technology system. During
the 2-year period beginning on the date
of such certification to Congress, PCAFC
will be expanded to include family
caregivers of eligible veterans who have
a serious injury (including traumatic
brain injury, psychological trauma, or
other mental disorder) incurred or
aggravated in the line of duty in the
active military, naval, or air service on
or before May 7, 1975. Two years after
the date of submission of the
certification to Congress, PCAFC will be
expanded to family caregivers of all
eligible veterans who have a serious
injury (including traumatic brain injury,
psychological trauma, or other mental
disorder) incurred or aggravated in the
line of duty in the active military, naval,
or air service, regardless of when the
serious injury occurred.
We are issuing this notice to solicit
input on changes to the program
required by the MISSION Act, as further
explained below. This notice and
request for information serves as a
means for VA to consult with key
stakeholders on how to define and
implement changes made to the
program by the MISSION Act. After
E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 27, 2018 / Notices
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
receipt of this information, we will use
the information to inform any changes
to this program and its implementing
regulations.
This notice and request for
information has a comment period of 15
days, during which individuals, groups,
and entities may reply to the questions
presented below. VA believes that 15
days is sufficient to provide comments,
as the individuals, groups, and entities
interested in this program likely have
information and opinions readily
available or can quickly compile and
submit such information. Commenters
are encouraged to provide complete but
concise responses to the questions
outlined below. Please note that VA will
not respond to comments or other
questions regarding policy plans,
decisions, or issues regarding this
notice. VA may choose to contact
individual commenters, and such
communications would only serve to
further clarify their written comments.
To implement changes to PCAFC
consistent with, and pursuant to, the
MISSION Act, we are seeking
information on the following topics and
issues:
Need for Personal Care Services
In addition to expanding PCAFC to
eligible veterans who served before
September 11, 2001 (subject to the
timeline discussed above), section 161
of the MISSION Act amended the
eligibility criteria in 38 U.S.C. 1720G to
add an additional basis upon which a
veteran can be deemed in need of
personal care services. Previously, to be
eligible for PCAFC, a veteran had to be
in need of personal care services
because of (1) an inability to perform
one or more activities of daily living, (2)
a need for supervision or protection
based on symptoms or residuals of
neurological or other impairment or
injury, or (3) such other matters as the
Secretary considers appropriate. The
MISSION Act amended this section to
include ‘‘a need for regular or extensive
instruction or supervision without
which the ability of the veteran to
function in daily life would be seriously
impaired’’ as another basis upon which
a veteran could be deemed in need of
personal care services. See 38 U.S.C.
1720G(a)(2)(C)(iii), as amended by
Public Law 115–182, section 161(a)(2).
Relatedly, the MISSION Act also
modified the definition of personal care
services to include ‘‘supervision or
protection based on symptoms of
residuals of neurological or other
impairment or injury,’’ and ‘‘regular or
extensive instruction or supervision
without which the ability of the veteran
to function in daily life would be
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:45 Nov 26, 2018
Jkt 247001
seriously impaired.’’ See 38 U.S.C.
1720G(d)(4), as amended by Public Law
115–182, section 161(b). In its
regulations, VA has defined ‘‘personal
care services’’ as care or assistance of
another person necessary to support the
eligible veteran’s health and well-being,
and perform personal functions required
in everyday living ensuring the eligible
veteran remains safe from hazards or
dangers incident to his or her daily
environment. See, 38 CFR 71.15.
VA is seeking public input on how to
define this need for regular or extensive
instruction or supervision, how to
assess whether the veteran’s ability to
function in daily life would be seriously
impaired, and whether and how to
change ‘‘personal care services’’ as
defined in VA’s regulations.
Legal and Financial Services
The MISSION Act also expands upon
the benefits available to each family
caregiver designated as the primary
provider of personal care services for an
eligible veteran to include: (1) Financial
planning services relating to the needs
of injured veterans and their caregivers,
and (2) legal services, including legal
advice and consultation, relating to the
needs of injured veterans and their
caregivers. See 38 U.S.C.
1720G(a)(3)(A)(ii)(VI), as amended by
Public Law 115–182, section 161(a)(3).
VA is seeking public comment on how
to define and deliver such additional
services.
Request for Information
Through this notice, we are soliciting
information on certain changes made to
PCAFC by the MISSION Act. We ask
respondents to address the following
questions, where possible, in the
context of the discussion in this
document. Commenters do not need to
address every question and should focus
on those that relate to their expertise or
perspectives. To the extent possible,
please clearly indicate which
question(s) you address in your
response. As previously mentioned,
responses to this request will inform our
updates to PCAFC.
Accordingly, we request comments on
the following:
1. How should VA define ‘‘a need for
regular or extensive instruction or
supervision’’ in the new 38 U.S.C.
1720G(a)(2)(C)(iii)?
a. Should this be based upon
frequency of intervention needed by the
veteran or level of complexity of
intervention? Should this be based upon
the impact to the veteran if such
instruction or supervision is not
provided? If so, how should this be
measured?
PO 00000
Frm 00147
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
60967
b. What constitutes ‘‘regular’’
instruction or supervision?
c. What constitutes ‘‘extensive’’
instruction or supervision?
2. How does ‘‘a need for regular or
extensive instruction or supervision
without which the ability of the veteran
to function in daily life would be
seriously impaired’’ differ from ‘‘a need
for supervision or protection based on
symptoms of residuals of neurological
or other impairment or injury?’’
a. How should VA define and assess
‘‘a need for supervision or protection
based on symptoms of residuals of
neurological or other impairment or
injury’’?
b. Are there established standards VA
should model?
3. How should VA assess whether the
ability of the veteran to function in daily
life would be seriously impaired
without regular or extensive instruction
or supervision?
a. Are there existing tools or
assessments that could be used?
b. How should ‘‘seriously impaired’’
be defined?
i. For example, should there be a
standard of time in which a veteran is
expected to be able to function without
the need for a caregiver, and once that
period of time is exceeded, a need for
a caregiver is required due to the
impairment of the veteran? Is there a
minimum period of time lapse that a
veteran should be expected to be able to
function and upon exceeding that time,
might meet this eligibility criterion?
ii. Are there standards that should or
could be used to determine when a
veteran’s ability to function in daily life
is considered seriously impaired
without regular or extensive instruction
or supervision?
iii. How should ‘‘ability to function in
daily life’’ be defined?
4. What specific financial planning
services relating to the needs of injured
veterans and their caregivers should be
made available to primary family
caregivers under the new 38 U.S.C.
1720G(a)(3)(A)(ii)(VI)(aa)?
a. Should entities provide these
services for free?
b. Are there specific financial
planning services that should be
excluded?
c. How should these services be made
available and/or delivered? Should
these be provided in person, online,
and/or via telephone?
d. Should there be a limit as to how
many times a primary family caregiver
has access to these services? If yes,
should it be an annual limit or lifetime
limit? Should it be limited by some
other measure?
e. What types of private organizations
provide these services?
E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM
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60968
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 27, 2018 / Notices
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i. What services do they provide?
ii. How are the services provided?
iii. Do these organizations provide
these services for free?
iv. Do these organizations contract
with other entities to provide these
services? Do these organizations receive
grants to provide these services?
f. What other Federal/state/local
agencies offer these services?
i. What services do they provide?
ii. How are the services provided?
iii. Do these agencies provide these
services for free?
iv. Do these agencies contract with
other entities to provide these services?
Do these agencies receive grants to
provide these services?
5. What specific legal services relating
to the needs of injured veterans and
their caregivers should be made
available to primary family caregivers
under the new 38 U.S.C.
1720G(a)(3)(A)(ii)(VI)(bb)?
a. Should entities provide these
services for free?
b. Are there specific legal services that
should be excluded?
c. How should these services be made
available? Should these be provided in
person, online, and/or via telephone?
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:45 Nov 26, 2018
Jkt 247001
d. Should there be a limit as to how
many times a primary family caregiver
has access to these services? If yes,
should it be an annual limit or lifetime
limit? Should it be limited by some
other measure?
e. What types of private organizations
provide these services?
i. What services do they provide?
ii. How are the services provided?
iii. Do these organizations provide
these services for free?
iv. Do these organizations contract
with other entities to provide these
services? Do these organizations receive
grants to provide these services?
f. What other Federal/state/local
agencies offer these services?
i. What services do they provide?
ii. How are the services provided?
iii. Do these agencies provide these
services for free?
iv. Do these agencies contract with
other entities to provide these services?
Do these organizations receive grants to
provide these services?
Paperwork Reduction Act
This request for information
constitutes a general solicitation of
public comments as stated in the
implementing regulations of the
PO 00000
Frm 00148
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 at 5
CFR 1320.3(h)(4). Therefore, this request
for information does not impose
information collection requirements
(i.e., reporting, recordkeeping or thirdparty disclosure requirements).
Consequently, there is no need for
review by the Office of Management and
Budget under the authority of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
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. Robert L. Wilkie,
Secretary, Department of Veterans
Affairs, approved this document on
November 19, 2018, for publication.
Dated: November 19, 2018.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy
& Management, Office of the Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018–25763 Filed 11–26–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60966-60968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25763]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Notice of Request for Information on the Department of Veterans
Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
(PCAFC)
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is requesting
information regarding its Program of Comprehensive Assistance for
Family Caregivers (PCAFC). This notice requests information and
comments from interested parties on certain requirements of the John S.
McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining
Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of
2018 or the VA MISSION Act of 2018 related to PCAFC.
DATES: Comments are due by December 12, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through https://www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand delivery to the Director, Office
of Regulation Policy and Management (00REG), Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420; or by
fax to (202) 273-9026 (this is not a toll-free number). Comments should
indicate that they are submitted in response to ``Notice of Request for
Information on the Department of Veterans Affairs Program of
Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).'' Copies of
comments received will be available for public inspection in the Office
of Regulation Policy and Management (00REG), Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420,
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
(except Federal holidays). Please call (202) 461-4902 for an
appointment (this is not a toll-free number). During the comment
period, comments may also be viewed online through the Federal Docket
Management System at www.Regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Kabat, National Director,
Caregiver Support Program (10P4C), Veterans Health Administration,
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20420, (202) 461-6780 (this is not a toll-free number),
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for
Family Caregivers (PCAFC) was established by title I of Public Law
(Pub. L.) 111-163, Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act
of 2010, and is codified in section 1720G(a) of title 38 of the United
States Code (U.S.C.). VA has been administering PCAFC continuously
since May 5, 2011, and has implemented this program through its
regulations in Part 71 of title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR). Through PCAFC, VA provides family caregivers of eligible
veterans and servicemembers (as defined in 38 CFR 71.20) certain
benefits, such as training, respite care, counseling, technical
support, beneficiary travel (to attend required caregiver training and
for an eligible veteran's medical appointments), a monthly stipend
payment, and access to health care (if qualified) through the Civilian
Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(CHAMPVA) 38 U.S.C. 1720G(a)(3), 38 CFR 71.40. For the purposes of this
notice, the term veteran includes servicemembers who apply for or
participate in PCAFC.
PCAFC is currently available to family caregivers of eligible
veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious injury (including
traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma, or other mental disorder)
in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service on or
after September 11, 2001. 38 U.S.C. 1720G(a)(2)(B). On June 6, 2018,
the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA
Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside
Networks Act of 2018 or the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (``MISSION Act''),
Public Law 115-182, was signed into law. Section 161 of the MISSION Act
amended 38 U.S.C. 1720G to expand eligibility for PCAFC to family
caregivers of eligible veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious
injury in the line of duty before September 11, 2001, establish new
benefits for designated primary family caregivers of eligible veterans,
and make other changes affecting program eligibility and VA's
evaluation of PCAFC applications. The expansion of PCFAC to family
caregivers of eligible veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious
injury in the line of duty before September 11, 2001, will occur in two
phases, the first of which will begin when VA certifies to Congress
that it has fully implemented a required information technology system.
During the 2-year period beginning on the date of such certification to
Congress, PCAFC will be expanded to include family caregivers of
eligible veterans who have a serious injury (including traumatic brain
injury, psychological trauma, or other mental disorder) incurred or
aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air
service on or before May 7, 1975. Two years after the date of
submission of the certification to Congress, PCAFC will be expanded to
family caregivers of all eligible veterans who have a serious injury
(including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma, or other
mental disorder) incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the
active military, naval, or air service, regardless of when the serious
injury occurred.
We are issuing this notice to solicit input on changes to the
program required by the MISSION Act, as further explained below. This
notice and request for information serves as a means for VA to consult
with key stakeholders on how to define and implement changes made to
the program by the MISSION Act. After
[[Page 60967]]
receipt of this information, we will use the information to inform any
changes to this program and its implementing regulations.
This notice and request for information has a comment period of 15
days, during which individuals, groups, and entities may reply to the
questions presented below. VA believes that 15 days is sufficient to
provide comments, as the individuals, groups, and entities interested
in this program likely have information and opinions readily available
or can quickly compile and submit such information. Commenters are
encouraged to provide complete but concise responses to the questions
outlined below. Please note that VA will not respond to comments or
other questions regarding policy plans, decisions, or issues regarding
this notice. VA may choose to contact individual commenters, and such
communications would only serve to further clarify their written
comments.
To implement changes to PCAFC consistent with, and pursuant to, the
MISSION Act, we are seeking information on the following topics and
issues:
Need for Personal Care Services
In addition to expanding PCAFC to eligible veterans who served
before September 11, 2001 (subject to the timeline discussed above),
section 161 of the MISSION Act amended the eligibility criteria in 38
U.S.C. 1720G to add an additional basis upon which a veteran can be
deemed in need of personal care services. Previously, to be eligible
for PCAFC, a veteran had to be in need of personal care services
because of (1) an inability to perform one or more activities of daily
living, (2) a need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or
residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury, or (3) such
other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate. The MISSION Act
amended this section to include ``a need for regular or extensive
instruction or supervision without which the ability of the veteran to
function in daily life would be seriously impaired'' as another basis
upon which a veteran could be deemed in need of personal care services.
See 38 U.S.C. 1720G(a)(2)(C)(iii), as amended by Public Law 115-182,
section 161(a)(2).
Relatedly, the MISSION Act also modified the definition of personal
care services to include ``supervision or protection based on symptoms
of residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury,'' and
``regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which the
ability of the veteran to function in daily life would be seriously
impaired.'' See 38 U.S.C. 1720G(d)(4), as amended by Public Law 115-
182, section 161(b). In its regulations, VA has defined ``personal care
services'' as care or assistance of another person necessary to support
the eligible veteran's health and well-being, and perform personal
functions required in everyday living ensuring the eligible veteran
remains safe from hazards or dangers incident to his or her daily
environment. See, 38 CFR 71.15.
VA is seeking public input on how to define this need for regular
or extensive instruction or supervision, how to assess whether the
veteran's ability to function in daily life would be seriously
impaired, and whether and how to change ``personal care services'' as
defined in VA's regulations.
Legal and Financial Services
The MISSION Act also expands upon the benefits available to each
family caregiver designated as the primary provider of personal care
services for an eligible veteran to include: (1) Financial planning
services relating to the needs of injured veterans and their
caregivers, and (2) legal services, including legal advice and
consultation, relating to the needs of injured veterans and their
caregivers. See 38 U.S.C. 1720G(a)(3)(A)(ii)(VI), as amended by Public
Law 115-182, section 161(a)(3). VA is seeking public comment on how to
define and deliver such additional services.
Request for Information
Through this notice, we are soliciting information on certain
changes made to PCAFC by the MISSION Act. We ask respondents to address
the following questions, where possible, in the context of the
discussion in this document. Commenters do not need to address every
question and should focus on those that relate to their expertise or
perspectives. To the extent possible, please clearly indicate which
question(s) you address in your response. As previously mentioned,
responses to this request will inform our updates to PCAFC.
Accordingly, we request comments on the following:
1. How should VA define ``a need for regular or extensive
instruction or supervision'' in the new 38 U.S.C. 1720G(a)(2)(C)(iii)?
a. Should this be based upon frequency of intervention needed by
the veteran or level of complexity of intervention? Should this be
based upon the impact to the veteran if such instruction or supervision
is not provided? If so, how should this be measured?
b. What constitutes ``regular'' instruction or supervision?
c. What constitutes ``extensive'' instruction or supervision?
2. How does ``a need for regular or extensive instruction or
supervision without which the ability of the veteran to function in
daily life would be seriously impaired'' differ from ``a need for
supervision or protection based on symptoms of residuals of
neurological or other impairment or injury?''
a. How should VA define and assess ``a need for supervision or
protection based on symptoms of residuals of neurological or other
impairment or injury''?
b. Are there established standards VA should model?
3. How should VA assess whether the ability of the veteran to
function in daily life would be seriously impaired without regular or
extensive instruction or supervision?
a. Are there existing tools or assessments that could be used?
b. How should ``seriously impaired'' be defined?
i. For example, should there be a standard of time in which a
veteran is expected to be able to function without the need for a
caregiver, and once that period of time is exceeded, a need for a
caregiver is required due to the impairment of the veteran? Is there a
minimum period of time lapse that a veteran should be expected to be
able to function and upon exceeding that time, might meet this
eligibility criterion?
ii. Are there standards that should or could be used to determine
when a veteran's ability to function in daily life is considered
seriously impaired without regular or extensive instruction or
supervision?
iii. How should ``ability to function in daily life'' be defined?
4. What specific financial planning services relating to the needs
of injured veterans and their caregivers should be made available to
primary family caregivers under the new 38 U.S.C.
1720G(a)(3)(A)(ii)(VI)(aa)?
a. Should entities provide these services for free?
b. Are there specific financial planning services that should be
excluded?
c. How should these services be made available and/or delivered?
Should these be provided in person, online, and/or via telephone?
d. Should there be a limit as to how many times a primary family
caregiver has access to these services? If yes, should it be an annual
limit or lifetime limit? Should it be limited by some other measure?
e. What types of private organizations provide these services?
[[Page 60968]]
i. What services do they provide?
ii. How are the services provided?
iii. Do these organizations provide these services for free?
iv. Do these organizations contract with other entities to provide
these services? Do these organizations receive grants to provide these
services?
f. What other Federal/state/local agencies offer these services?
i. What services do they provide?
ii. How are the services provided?
iii. Do these agencies provide these services for free?
iv. Do these agencies contract with other entities to provide these
services? Do these agencies receive grants to provide these services?
5. What specific legal services relating to the needs of injured
veterans and their caregivers should be made available to primary
family caregivers under the new 38 U.S.C. 1720G(a)(3)(A)(ii)(VI)(bb)?
a. Should entities provide these services for free?
b. Are there specific legal services that should be excluded?
c. How should these services be made available? Should these be
provided in person, online, and/or via telephone?
d. Should there be a limit as to how many times a primary family
caregiver has access to these services? If yes, should it be an annual
limit or lifetime limit? Should it be limited by some other measure?
e. What types of private organizations provide these services?
i. What services do they provide?
ii. How are the services provided?
iii. Do these organizations provide these services for free?
iv. Do these organizations contract with other entities to provide
these services? Do these organizations receive grants to provide these
services?
f. What other Federal/state/local agencies offer these services?
i. What services do they provide?
ii. How are the services provided?
iii. Do these agencies provide these services for free?
iv. Do these agencies contract with other entities to provide these
services? Do these organizations receive grants to provide these
services?
Paperwork Reduction Act
This request for information constitutes a general solicitation of
public comments as stated in the implementing regulations of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 at 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4). Therefore, this
request for information does not impose information collection
requirements (i.e., reporting, recordkeeping or third-party disclosure
requirements). Consequently, there is no need for review by the Office
of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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. Robert L.
Wilkie, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on November 19, 2018, for publication.
Dated: November 19, 2018.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-25763 Filed 11-26-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
