[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 153 (Friday, August 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47382-47383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20396]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Draft National Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services 
(CARES) Plan

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document concerns VA's health care planning process known 
as CARES, or Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services. The CARES 
process was designed to enable the veterans health care system to more 
effectively use its resources to deliver more care, to more veterans, 
in places where veterans need it most. We are providing interested 
persons the opportunity to review and submit written comments to the 
independent CARES Commission concerning the draft National CARES Plan 
of the Under Secretary for Health.

DATES: Comments may be submitted until further notice is published in 
the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments can be mailed to Richard E. Larson, 
Executive Director, CARES Commission, 00CARES, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20480; or faxed to (202) 501-2196; or e-mail to http://www.carescommission.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are 
submitted in response to the ``Notice; Draft National Capital Asset 
Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Plan.''

[[Page 47383]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janice R. Sloan, CARES Commission, at 
(202) 501-2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA's mission to provide quality health care 
for America's veterans has not changed since its inception. But how 
that care is provided--at what kind of facilities, where they are 
located and which types of procedures are used--has been subject to 
dynamic change. Medical advances, modern health care trends, and 
veteran migrations all have an impact on the medical care landscape. In 
a dynamic health care environment, VA must plan to embrace change so it 
can best serve veterans health care needs in the future.
    The draft National CARES Plan embodies the plan for managing a 
vital element of that change: The Department's capital infrastructure. 
The plan is based on a systematic, national assessment of the future 
needs of veterans and the present location and condition of the 
physical plant that delivers their health care. The draft National 
CARES Plan identifies gaps where there is an imbalance between current 
infrastructure and future needs. It then makes recommendations to solve 
these imbalances and assure that VA is best positioned to meet veterans 
health care needs into the future.
    The draft Plan incorporates new community-based primary and 
specialty outpatient clinics. Additionally, four new Spinal Cord Injury 
and Disorders Units have been proposed, along with two new Blind 
Rehabilitation Centers. Other enhancements include expansion of 
numerous existing outpatient clinics, renovations of inpatient beds, 
diagnostic and ancillary services, as well as two new hospitals.
    The full plan, all appendices, and related information can be 
viewed at http://www.va.gov/CARES. It also is available for inspection 
in the Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., Room 
1063B, Washington, DC 20420. The draft National CARES Plan, including 
an appendix that summarizes individual network plans, which was 
prepared by VA's Under Secretary for Health after review of present and 
projected user data, as well as input from a wide range of sources and 
stakeholders and the individual network plans will be published in 
another Federal Register notice in the near future.
    The independent CARES Commission, appointed by the VA Secretary, is 
evaluating this draft National CARES Plan, which incorporates 
individual network Market Plans. Members of the Commission include 
individuals with special knowledge or interest relating to VA health 
care, as well as representatives from stakeholders' groups.
    This notice provides interested persons an opportunity to submit 
written comments concerning the draft National CARES Plan to the CARES 
Commission. The Commission will consider these comments in developing 
its recommendations to the VA Secretary. Under the CARES process, the 
Secretary will either accept or reject the Commission's 
recommendations, without modification.

    Dated: August 6, 2003.
Tim S. McClain,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 03-20396 Filed 8-6-03; 3:18 pm]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P