[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 239 (Thursday, December 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75494-75495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29327]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Copayment for Medication

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving 
notice that there is no change in the medication copayment rate for 
calendar year 2009 and the rate will remain at $8.00. The total amount 
of copayments in a calendar year for a veteran enrolled in one of the 
priority groups 2 through 6 shall not exceed the cap of $960.00. These 
rates are based on the Prescription Drug component of the Medical 
Consumer Price Index as cited in title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, 
part 17, section 17.110.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Guagliardo, Director, Business 
Policy (163), Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20420, (202) 461-1591. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is required by law to charge certain 
veterans a copayment for each 30-day or less supply of medication 
provided on an outpatient basis (other than medication administered 
during treatment) for treatment of a non-service connected condition. 
Public Law 106-117, The Veterans' Millennium Health Care and Benefits 
Act, gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs authority to increase the 
medication copayment amount and to establish a calendar year cap on the 
amount of medication copayments charged to veterans enrolled in 
priority groups 2 through 6. When veterans reach the calendar year cap, 
they will continue to receive medications without additional copayments 
for that calendar year.

Formula for Calculating the Medication Copayment Amount:

    Each calendar year beginning after December 31, 2002, the 
Prescription Drug component of the Medical Consumer Price Index of the 
previous September 30 is divided by the Index as of September 30, 2001. 
The ratio is then multiplied by the original copayment amount of $7.00. 
The copayment amount of the new calendar year is then

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rounded down to the whole dollar amount.

Computation of Calendar Year 2009 Medication Copayment Amount Includes:

    a. Prescription Drug Medical Consumer Price Index as of September 
30, 2008 = 377.1.
    b. Prescription Drug Medical Consumer Price Index as of September 
30, 2001 = 304.8.
    c. Index = 377.1 divided by 304.8 = 1.2371.
    d. (INDEX) x $7 = $8.66.
    e. Copayment amount = $8.00.

    Dated: December 4, 2008.
Gordon Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E8-29327 Filed 12-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P