[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 79939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28229]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Reimbursement for Caskets and Urns for Burial of Unclaimed 
Remains in a National Cemetery or a VA-Funded State or Tribal Veterans' 
Cemetery

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is updating the 
monetary reimbursement rates for caskets and urns purchased for 
interment in a VA national cemetery or a VA-funded State or Tribal 
Veterans' cemetery of Veterans who die with no known next of kin and 
where there are insufficient resources for furnishing a burial 
container. The purpose of this notice is to notify interested parties 
of the rates that will apply to reimbursement claims that occur during 
calendar year 2023.

DATES: This reimbursement is effective January 1, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Sowders, National Cemetery 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 4850 Lemay Ferry Road, 
Saint Louis, MO 63129. The telephone number is 314-416-6369. This is 
not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2306(f) of title 38, United States 
Code, authorizes VA's National Cemetery Administration to furnish a 
casket or urn for interment in a VA national cemetery or a VA-funded 
State or Tribal Veterans' cemetery of the unclaimed remains of Veterans 
for whom VA cannot identify a next of kin, and determines that 
sufficient financial resources for the furnishing of a casket or urn 
for burial are not available. VA established regulations to administer 
this authority as a reimbursement benefit in 38 CFR 38.628.
    In accordance with the regulation, reimbursement for a claim 
received in any calendar year will not exceed the average cost of a 20-
gauge metal casket or a durable plastic urn during the fiscal year 
preceding the calendar year of the claim, as determined by VA.
    Average costs are based on market price analysis for 20-gauge metal 
caskets, designed to contain human remains, with a gasketed seal, and 
external rails or handles. The same analysis is completed for durable 
plastic urns, designed to contain human remains, which include a secure 
closure to contain the cremated remains.
    Using this approach, in fiscal year 2022, the average costs were 
determined to be $1,115.00 for caskets and $106.00 for urns. 
Accordingly, the maximum reimbursement rates payable for qualifying 
interments occurring during calendar year 2023 are $1,115.00 for 
caskets and $106.00 for urns.

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on December 19, 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.

Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-28229 Filed 12-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P