Department of Veterans Affairs November 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulations governing Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) to allow a SGLI- covered member (member) who marries another SGLI-eligible member (member spouse) after January 1, 2013, or a member whose spouse becomes a member spouse after January 1, 2013, to receive FSGLI coverage on a member spouse at the maximum statutory amount or a lesser amount, or to increase existing FSGLI coverage on a member spouse. A member married to a member may elect or increase FSGLI coverage for a member spouse, without a requirement to show good health, within 240 days of: The member's marriage to another member, the member's spouse entering service, or the member's spouse separating from service. If a member does not elect or increase FSGLI coverage within this 240-day ``no health'' period, then the member can still receive or increase FSGLI coverage by applying for such coverage and submitting proof of the member spouse's good health. The final rulemaking also states that FSGLI coverage that is in force at the time a spouse or child enters service will continue and the member is not required to elect or reapply for such coverage. Additionally, VA is making a technical amendment to the amendatory language.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Health 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, and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Health 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, and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Health 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, and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is establishing in regulation its processes and procedures for issuing guidance documents. This final rulemaking will implement the mandates of Executive Order 13891, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is withdrawing a document published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2018, proposing to amend its regulations to clarify that a valid consent authorizing VA to release the patient's confidential VA medical records to a health information exchange (HIE) community partner may be established not only by VA's physical possession of the written consent form, but also by the HIE community partner's written (electronic) attestation that the patient has provided such consent.

Veterans Benefits Administration, 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 reinstatement, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations concerning beneficiary travel. The revisions would amend the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) beneficiary travel regulations to establish a new payment methodology for special modes of transportation. The new payment methodology would apply in the absence of a contract between VA and a vendor of the special mode of transportation. For transport by ambulance, VA proposes to pay the lesser of the actual charge or the amount determined by the Medicare Part B Ambulance Fee Schedule (AFS) established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). For travel by modes other than ambulance, VA proposes to establish a payment methodology based on states' posted rates or the actual charge. VA would replace this payment methodology for travel by modes other than ambulance at some time in the future, once VA has collected enough data to develop a new methodology.

Veteran's 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.