[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 58977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23514]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 17

RIN 2900-AO27


Exempting In-Home Video Telehealth From Copayments

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is withdrawing VA's 
proposed rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on March 6, 
2012, to amend its regulation that governs VA services that are not 
subject to copayment requirements for inpatient hospital care or 
outpatient medical care. Specifically, the regulation exempted in-home 
video telehealth care from having any required copayment. VA received 
no significant adverse comments concerning the proposed rule or its 
companion substantially identical direct final rule published on the 
same date in the Federal Register. In a companion document in this 
issue of the Federal Register, we are confirming that the direct final 
rule became effective on May 7, 2012. Accordingly, this document 
withdraws as unnecessary the proposed rule.

DATES: The proposed rule is withdrawn as of September 25, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin J. Cunningham, Director 
Business Policy, Chief Business Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
810 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420; (202) 461-1599. (This is 
not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a proposed rule published in the Federal 
Register on March 6, 2012, 77 FR 13236, VA proposed to amend 38 CFR 
17.108 to eliminate co-payments for in-home video telehealth. 
Additionally, VA published a companion substantially identical direct 
final rule at 77 FR 13195 on the same date. The direct final rule and 
proposed rule each provided a 30-day comment period that ended on April 
5, 2012. No adverse comments were received. Two comments that supported 
the rulemaking were received from members of the general public.
    Because no significant adverse comments were received within the 
comment period, VA is withdrawing the proposed rule as unnecessary. In 
a companion document in this issue of the Federal Register, VA is 
confirming the effective date of the direct final rule, RIN 2900-AO26, 
published at 77 FR 13195.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. John R. 
Gingrich, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on September 18, 2012, for publication.

    Dated: September 19, 2012.
Robert C. McFetridge,
Director, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the 
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-23514 Filed 9-24-12; 8:45 am]
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