Department of Veterans Affairs September 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking direct final action to amend its regulations concerning per diem payments to State homes for the provision of nursing home care to veterans. Specifically, this rule removes the requirement that a veteran must have resided in a State home for 30 consecutive days before VA will pay per diem for that veteran when there is no overnight stay. The intended effect of this direct final rule is to permit per diem payments to State homes for veterans who do not stay overnight, regardless of how long the veterans have resided at the State homes, so that the State homes will hold the veterans' beds until the veterans return.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is withdrawing VA's proposed rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2012, to amend its regulation that governs VA services that are not subject to copayment requirements for inpatient hospital care or outpatient medical care. Specifically, the regulation exempted in-home video telehealth care from having any required copayment. VA received no significant adverse comments concerning the proposed rule or its companion substantially identical direct final rule published on the same date in the Federal Register. In a companion document in this issue of the Federal Register, we are confirming that the direct final rule became effective on May 7, 2012. Accordingly, this document withdraws as unnecessary the proposed rule.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing an amendment to the Notices of Fund Availability issued in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for supportive services grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. VA published two Notices in the Federal Register on December 17, 2010 (75 FR 79087), and on December 1, 2011 (76 FR 74849), titled, ``Fund Availability Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program.'' Under ``Requirements for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds'' section of the Notices, grantees were permitted to ``utilize a maximum of 30 percent of supportive services grant funds to provide the supportive service of temporary financial assistance paid directly to a third party on behalf of a participant for child care, transportation, rental assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, security deposits, utility deposits, moving costs, and emergency supplies in accordance with 38 CFR 62.33 and 62.34 of the final rule.'' VA has received comments from a variety of stakeholders that the 30 percent maximum for financial assistance is inadequate to meet the needs of Veteran families served in SSVF. For instance, the Department of Housing and Urban Development offers similar financial assistance through its Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing and Emergency Solutions Grant programs without such caps and also allows longer time limits for financial assistance. Grantees have stated that they are turning away eligible Veteran families for services as they are unable to successfully intervene to meet the needs of these families within the program's limits on financial assistance. As this limit may interfere with the mission of the SSVF program to prevent and end homelessness, VA announces that grantees are permitted to utilize a maximum of 50 percent of supportive services grant funds for these purposes. Technical Assistance: Information regarding how to obtain technical assistance with the preparation of this request should be directed to a grantee's regional coordinator. Additional information can also be found at https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

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 extension of a currently approved collection and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to determine a veteran's eligibility, dependency, and income, as applicable, for compensation and/or pension benefit sought.

The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), 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, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to collect information from subcontractors to compare information obtained from subcontracting plans submitted by prime contractors in order to determine the accuracy of the data reported by prime contractors.

The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(e)) requires all agencies to publish in the Federal Register a notice of the existence and character of their systems of records. Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is establishing a new system of records entitled ``VA Child Care Subsidy Program Records-VA'' (165VA05CCSP).