Agency Information Collection Activity: Application for Extended Care Services

SUMMARY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed renewal of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before January 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to Brian McCarthy, Office of Regulatory and Administrative Affairs (10B4), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to "OMB Control No. 2900-0629" in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian McCarthy at (202) 461-6345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.

With respect to the following collection of information, VHA invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of VHA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology.

Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1705, 1710B, 1722A, 1729.

Title: Application for Extended Care Services.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0629.

Type of Review: Renewal of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Title 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 authorizes VA to provide hospital care, medical services, domiciliary care and nursing home care to eligible Veterans. Title 38 U.S.C. 1705 requires VA to design, establish and operate a system of annual patient enrollment in accordance with a series of stipulated priorities. A consequence of this is that many groups of Veterans who are in a lower priority group (WWI Veterans, Veterans with disabilities rated as 0% service-connected seeking treatment for other than their service-connected conditions, Veterans exposed to a toxic substance, radiation, or environmental hazard and nonservice-connected Veterans) may request that they be allowed to be income tested in order to gain a higher priority. Title 38 U.S.C. 1722 establishes eligibility assessment procedures for cost-free VA medical care, based on income levels, which will determine whether nonservice-connected and 0% service-connected non-compensable Veterans are able to defray the necessary expenses of care for nonservice-connected conditions. Title 38 U.S.C. 1722A establishes the eligibility assessment procedures, based on income levels, for determining Veterans' eligibility for cost-free medications and Title 38 U.S.C. 1710B defines the procedures for establishing eligibility for cost-free Extended Care benefits. Title 38 U.S.C. 1729 authorizes VA to recover from Veterans' health insurance carriers the cost of care furnished for their nonservice-connected conditions. VA Form 10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Services, is used to collect financial information necessary to determine a Veteran's copayment obligation for extended care services, also known as long term care (LTC).

Affected Public: Individuals and households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 3,000 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 90 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000.

By direction of the Secretary.

Cynthia Harvey-Pryor,

Department Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, Privacy and Risk, Department of Veterans Affairs.

Notice.

Citation: "82 FR 55490"

Document Number: "OMB Control No. 2900-0629"

Federal Register Page Number: "55490"

"Notices"