Department of Veterans Affairs September 20, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulations to clarify that, when determining eligibility for interment or memorialization benefits, the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) will refer cases involving other than honorable (OTH) discharges, certain other discharges, or potential statutory or regulatory bars to benefits, to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for character of discharge determinations. VA is merely updating its regulations to conform with statute and current practice.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its medical regulations that govern copayments to conform with recent statutory requirements. VA is eliminating the copayment requirement for opioid antagonists furnished to veterans who are at high risk of overdose of a specific medication or substance in order to reverse the effect of such an overdose. VA is also clarifying that no copayment is required for the provision of education on the use of opioid antagonists. This final rule is an essential part of VA's attempts to help veterans at high risk of overdose.