[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 85 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21998-21999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10886]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 17

RIN 2900-AK50


Copayments for Inpatient Hospital Care and Outpatient Medical 
Care

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document affirms amendments to VA's medical regulations 
to set forth a mechanism for determining copayments for inpatient 
hospital care and outpatient medical care. These amendments were made 
by an interim final rule and were necessary to implement provisions of 
the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act and to set forth 
exemptions from copayment requirements as mandated by statute.

DATES: Effective Date: May 2, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy L. Howard at (202) 273-8198, 
Revenue Office (174), Office of Finance, Veterans Health 
Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. (The 
telephone number is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An interim final rule amending VA's medical 
regulations to set forth a mechanism for determining copayments for 
inpatient hospital care and outpatient medical care provided to 
veterans by VA was published in the Federal Register on December 6, 
2001 (66 FR 63446).
    We provided a 60-day comment period that ended February 4, 2002. No 
comments have been received. Based on the rationale set forth in the 
interim final rule we now affirm as a final rule the changes made by 
the interim final rule.

[[Page 21999]]

Administrative Procedure Act

    This document without any changes affirms amendments made by an 
interim final rule that is already in effect. Accordingly, we have 
concluded under 5 U.S.C. 553 that there is good cause for dispensing 
with a delayed effective date based on the conclusion that such 
procedure is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public 
interest.

Unfunded Mandates

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that 
agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before 
developing any rule that may result in an expenditure by State, local, 
or tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of 
$100 million or more in any given year. This final rule would have no 
consequential effect on State, local, or tribal governments.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document contains no provisions constituting a collection of 
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 
601-612. This final rule would not directly affect any small entities. 
Only individuals could be directly affected. Therefore, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 605(b), this final rule is exempt from the initial and final 
regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of sections 603 and 604.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers for the 
programs affected by this document are 64.005, 64.007, 64.008, 
64.009, 64.010, 64.011, 64.012, 64.013, 64.014, 64.015, 64.016, 
64.018, 64.019, 64.022, and 64.025. 1

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 17

    Administrative practice and procedure, Alcohol abuse, Alcoholism, 
Claims, Day care, Dental health, Drug abuse, Foreign relations, 
Government contracts, Grant programs-health, Grant programs-veterans, 
Health care, Health facilities, Health professions, Health records, 
Homeless, Medical and dental schools, Medical devices, Medical 
research, Mental health programs, Nursing homes, Philippines, Reporting 
and record-keeping requirements, Scholarships and fellowships, Travel 
and transportation expenses, Veterans.

    Approved: April 15, 2002.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

PART 17--MEDICAL

    Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 38 CFR part 17 which 
was published at 66 FR 63446 on December 6, 2001, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

[FR Doc. 02-10886 Filed 5-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P