[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48768-48769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17584]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


IHS/THP Reimbursement Agreements Program--AI/AN Veterans Care 
Coordination

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of tribal consultation session.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA) will facilitate a tribal consultation session 
regarding care coordination for veterans receiving care under the VA's 
Indian Health Service/Tribal Health Program (IHS/THP) Reimbursement 
Agreements Program. VA is seeking input on how we can ensure American 
Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans, who need care beyond what is 
offered directly within IHS/THP facilities, are able to get that care 
seamlessly either in VA medical facilities or in the community. VA 
established the Healthcare Coordination Advisory Board, with 
participation from IHS and tribes, to assist in developing and 
implementing standardized processes for care coordination. This 
consultation session aims to discuss the approach developed from the 
Advisory Board meetings and receive attendees' feedback on the plans 
for implementation of care coordination activities.
    Meeting Access Information: The virtual tribal consultation session 
will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. (Eastern 
Standard Time). Participants can access the presentation by logging 
into the following:
    https://vacctraining.adobeconnect.com/tribalconsultationihsthpreimbursementcarecoordinationplan/; for audio, 
please dial 1-800-767-1750, extension 85286. Participants will interact 
by submitting written comments/questions using the chat function during 
the presentation. Written comments may also be submitted to 
[email protected] before September 25, 2020, or by 
mail at Department of Veterans Affairs, Suite 915L, 810 Vermont Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20420.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please email Ms. Kara Hawthorne, IHS/
THP Program Manager, VA Office of Community Care, at 
[email protected], or by telephone at 303-780-4826 (this is not 
a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Utilizing the authorities found in 25 U.S.C. 
1645(c), Sharing Arrangements with Federal Agencies, and 38 U.S.C. 
8153, Sharing of Health-Care Resources, VA, IHS and Tribal Healthcare 
providers have created the IHS/THP Reimbursement Agreements Program. 
This program provides a means for IHS and THP health facilities to 
receive reimbursement from VA for direct care services provided to 
eligible AI/AN veterans. This tribal consultation session is seeking 
input from tribal governments regarding proposed

[[Page 48769]]

enhancement to care coordination efforts for eligible AI/AN veterans 
utilizing the Program when tribes cannot provide direct care services 
to veterans.

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. Brooks D. 
Tucker, Acting Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved 
this document on July 29, 2020 for publication.

Luvenia Potts,
Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & 
Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-17584 Filed 8-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P