Department of Veterans Affairs February 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004, Public Law 108-363, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of adjustments in certain benefit rates. These adjustments affect the compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs.

This document proposes to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loan Guaranty regulations related to several aspects of the servicing and liquidating of guaranteed housing loans in default, and submitting of guaranty claims by loan holders. Specific topics addressed include: Increased authority of servicers to implement loss- mitigation options, incentive payments to servicers for successful alternatives to foreclosure implemented, establishing a system of measuring and ranking servicer performance, permitting loan holders to review liquidation appraisals, requiring holders to calculate the net value of the security property prior to foreclosure, establishing a timeframe for when foreclosure of a defaulted loan would be expected to have been completed, limiting the amount of interest and other fees and charges that may be included in a guaranty claim, establishing attorneys fees allowed to be included in the guaranty claim, establishing a deadline for the submission of guaranty claims, modifying the requirements for title evidence for properties conveyed to VA following foreclosure, modifying the requirements for how long a holder must maintain records relating to loans for which VA has paid a claim on the guaranty, and eliminating the requirement for the submission of legal procedural papers to VA.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to deduct insurance premiums from policyholder's bank account.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to determine entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), death pension and accrued benefits.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C., 3501-3521), this notice announces that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following emergency proposal for the collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507(j)(1)). The reason for the emergency clearance is to continue obtaining certification from State approving agency and employees of VA certifying that they do not own any interest in a proprietary profit school. Disruption of the collection of information will harm VBA's efforts to carry out its mission. OMB has been requested to act on this emergency clearance request by February 25, 2005.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a previously approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed from accredited and nonaccredited educational institutions.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to determine a claimant's eligibility for disability insurance benefits.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to confirm a claimant's continued entitlement to Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors (REPS) benefits.

This final rule amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical regulations concerning payment for non-VA health care professional services that are associated with either outpatient or inpatient care provided to eligible VA beneficiaries at non-VA facilities. Currently, the medical regulations require all VA facilities to reimburse for non-VA health care professional services based upon the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) physician fee schedule in effect at the time the services are provided. However, if the standard payment methodology is implemented in Alaska, VA payments will be significantly less than the usual and customary charges for the state. This may limit VA patient access to non-VA health care. Since a large portion of VA health care provided in Alaska is obtained from non-VA sources, this could negatively impact the quality of care provided veterans living in that state. This rule establishes an Alaska-specific payment methodology for inpatient and outpatient non-VA health care professional services within that state. The rule ensures that amounts paid to health care providers represent the local cost to furnish a service, while continuing to achieve program cost reductions.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to maintain Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance accounts.

The invention listed below is owned by the U.S. Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and is available for licensing in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 and 37 CFR part 404 and/or CRADA Collaboration under 15 U.S.C. 3710a to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for U.S. companies and may also be available for licensing.