[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 250 (Monday, December 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79564-79565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31164]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Discontinuance of Annual Financial Assessments--Delay in 
Implementation

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a Notice in 
the Federal Register on October 25, 2013 (78 FR 64065) announcing that 
we intended to change financial reporting practices requiring annual 
financial assessments from veterans enrolled in the VA health care 
system. The purpose of this Notice is to notify interested parties that 
due to delays in modifying computer software, VA is postponing 
implementation of this change.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin J. Cunningham, Director 
Business Policy, Chief Business Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420; (202) 382-2508. (This is 
not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Certain veterans are enrolled in the VA 
health care system based on their income: Priority Groups 5, 7, and 8. 
VA requires these veterans to submit a financial assessment when 
initially enrolled and then requests resubmission of this information 
each year thereafter on the enrollment anniversary. VA verifies that 
self-reported financial information through a computer matching of 
income reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social 
Security Administration (SSA).
    VA intends to eliminate this annual burden by changing the 
financial reporting practices. Veterans will be

[[Page 79565]]

requested to submit financial assessment information using a VA Form 
10-10EZ only during the initial enrollment process. VA will continue to 
receive income information from IRS and SSA, which will then be 
compared to the information initially provided by the veteran. A 
veteran will be asked to provide further income and asset information, 
or to verify the data provided by IRS or SSA, only in those cases where 
VA identifies a change to the veteran's income that would result in a 
change to the veteran's priority group status.
    As stated in VA's October 25, 2013, Notice, this change in policy 
will be implemented in phases because the policy change requires 
revision of current VA forms and processes including updating existing 
information technology. Phase I, which will eliminate the need for 
current enrollees to submit the annual financial assessment, was 
scheduled to be implemented by December 31, 2013. Due to delays in 
revising and updating supporting computer software, VA is postponing 
implementation of Phase I until a date to be determined. VA will 
publish a Notice in the Federal Register to announce the new 
implementation date.

    Dated: December 24, 2013.
William F. Russo,
Deputy Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office the General 
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-31164 Filed 12-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P