[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 179 (Friday, September 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 57024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20068]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Notice of Tribal Consultation and Request for Comments on New 
Agreement Template Draft for VA's Indian Health Services/Tribal Health 
Program Reimbursement Agreements

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA) will facilitate a tribal consultation session 
regarding the expansion of VA's Indian Health Services/Tribal Health 
Program's (IHS/THP) Reimbursement Agreements Program to include 
Purchase Referred Care (PRC) and Contracted Travel. VA seeks tribal 
feedback to assist with drafting an updated Reimbursement Agreement 
template for the lower 48 states. Input requested includes, but is not 
limited to, the agreement scope of service, payment rates and invoicing 
or billing submissions.

DATES: VA will hold an in-person consultation on Tuesday, September 27, 
2022, between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. (EST) at the Hyatt Regency 
Washington, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001, which will be 
hosted by the National Indian Health Board. Additionally, VA will hold 
a virtual consultation on September 30, 2022, between 1-2 p.m. (EST). 
Written comments must be received on or before September 30, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Participants can attend the in-person consultation at the 
Hyatt Regency Washington, 400 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20001. Participants can also access the virtual session by logging 
into: https://vacctraining.adobeconnect.com/r400v3p2dbjq/.
    Written comments may also be submitted by any of the following 
methods: Email: [email protected] or Mail: Department 
of Veterans Affairs, VHA 16, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kara Hawthorne, Program Manager, 
VA Office of Integrated Veteran Care, at [email protected] or 
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/THP and Urban Indian 
Organizations (UIO) have created the Reimbursement Agreements Program. 
This program provides a means for IHS/THP and UIO health facilities to 
receive reimbursement from VA for direct care services provided to 
eligible American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans. These tribal 
consultation sessions are seeking input from tribal governments 
regarding a draft agreement that expands the current agreements to 
include PRC and Contract Travel. The draft agreement was sent to tribal 
leadership and can be obtained by emailing [email protected]. 
Expansion of the agreements to cover such care is authorized by, and 
consistent with, section 2 of the Proper and Reimbursed Care for Native 
Veterans Act, Public Law 116-311, which amended section 405(c) of the 
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (codified at 25 U.S.C. 1645) by 
clarifying the authority to reimburse for direct care services provided 
by IHS/THP or UIO health facilities regardless of whether the services 
are provided directly by such organizations, through purchased/referred 
care, or through a contract for travel described in 25 U.S.C. 1621I(b).

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on September 12, 2022, 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.

Luvenia Potts,
Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & 
Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-20068 Filed 9-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P