[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12271-12272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04686]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Discontinuance of Annual Financial Assessments--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 certain veterans enrolled in the VA health 
care system. On December 30, 2013 (78 FR 79564), VA announced that it 
was postponing implementation of this change until a date to be 
determined, due to delays in modifying computer software. The purpose 
of this Notice is to notify interested parties that the first phase of 
this change will be implemented no later than March 31, 2014.

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

[[Page 12272]]

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 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. VA stated that the change would be implemented 
in phases beginning no later than the end of calendar year 2013. Phase 
I will eliminate the need for current enrollees to submit the annual 
financial assessment. Phase II, which will include new enrollees, is 
targeted after Phase I is completed. During Phase II, VA will 
discontinue the requirement that new enrollees placed in Priority Group 
5, 7, or 8 provide an annual update of financial assessment 
information.
    In VA's Notice of December 30, 2013, we stated that implementation 
would be postponed until a date to be determined due to delays in 
revising and updating supporting computer software. The purpose of this 
Notice is to notify interested parties that the first phase of this 
change will be implemented no later than March 31, 2014. VA will 
publish a Notice in the Federal Register to announce when Phase I of 
the implementation is complete and the commencement of Phase II.

    Dated: February 27, 2014.
William F. Russo,
Deputy Director, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of 
the General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2014-04686 Filed 3-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P