80 FR 68447 - Exempting Mental Health Peer Support Services From Copayments

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 214 (November 5, 2015)

Page Range		68447-68447
FR Document		2015-28259

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a direct final rule amending its regulation that governs VA services that are not subject to copayment requirements for inpatient hospital care or outpatient medical care. Specifically, the regulation is amended to exempt mental health peer support services from having any required copayment. VA received no adverse comments concerning the direct final rule or its companion substantially identical proposed rule published in the Federal Register on the same date. This document confirms that the direct final rule became effective on January 27, 2015. In a companion document in this issue of the Federal Register, we are withdrawing as unnecessary the proposed rule.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 68447]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28259]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 17

RIN 2900-AP11


Exempting Mental Health Peer Support Services From Copayments

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of effective date.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a direct 
final rule amending its regulation that governs VA services that are 
not subject to copayment requirements for inpatient hospital care or 
outpatient medical care. Specifically, the regulation is amended to 
exempt mental health peer support services from having any required 
copayment. VA received no adverse comments concerning the direct final 
rule or its companion substantially identical proposed rule published 
in the Federal Register on the same date. This document confirms that 
the direct final rule became effective on January 27, 2015. In a 
companion document in this issue of the Federal Register, we are 
withdrawing as unnecessary the proposed rule.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of January 27, 2015, for the 
direct final rule published November 28, 2014, 79 FR 70938, is 
confirmed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin J. Cunningham, Director 
Business Policy, Chief Business Office (10NB6), Veterans Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20420; (202) 382-2508. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a direct final rule published in the 
Federal Register on November 28, 2014, 79 FR 70938, VA amended 38 CFR 
17.108 to eliminate copayments for mental health peer support services. 
VA published a companion substantially identical proposed rule at 79 FR 
70941, on the same date to serve as a proposal for the revisions in the 
direct final rule in case adverse comments were received. The direct 
final rule and proposed rule each provided a 60-day comment period that 
ended on January 27, 2015. No adverse comments were received. Six 
comments that supported the rulemaking were received from the general 
public. One commenter also urged VA to exempt evidence-based, cost-
effective primary care services from having a required copayment. This 
comment is outside the scope of this rulemaking, and therefore, VA is 
not making any changes to this rulemaking based on this comment.
    Under the direct final rule procedures that were described in 79 FR 
70938 and 79 FR 70941, the direct final rule became effective on 
January 27, 2015, because no adverse comments were received within the 
comment period. In a companion document in this issue of the Federal 
Register, VA is withdrawing the proposed rulemaking, RIN 2900-AP10, 
published at 79 FR 70941, as unnecessary.

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. Robert L. 
Nabors II, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved 
this document on October 26, 2015, for publication.

    Dated: November 2, 2015.
Michael P. Shores,
Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office 
of the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-28259 Filed 11-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 214 / Thursday, November 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 68447

is one week or longer in duration. This actively engaged in towing or escorting FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
rule is categorically excluded from those vessels. Kristin J. Cunningham, Director
further review under paragraph 34(g) of (2) Regulations. In accordance with Business Policy, Chief Business Office
Figure 2–1 of the Commandant the general regulations in subpart C of (10NB6), Veterans Health
Instruction. An environmental analysis this section, no persons or vessels may Administration, Department of Veterans
checklist supporting this determination enter these safety zones unless Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW.,
and a Categorical Exclusion authorized by the Captain of the Port, Washington, DC 20420; (202) 382–2508.
Determination are available in the Puget Sound or his designated (This is not a toll-free number.)
docket where indicated under representative. To request permission to
ADDRESSES. enter one of these safety zones contact SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a direct
the Joint Harbor Operations Center at final rule published in the Federal
G. Protest Activities 206–217–6001, or the on-scene Law Register on November 28, 2014, 79 FR
The Coast Guard respects the First Enforcement patrol craft, if any, via 70938, VA amended 38 CFR 17.108 to
Amendment rights of all individuals VHF–FM CH 16. If permission for entry eliminate copayments for mental health
and supports the ability to congregate into one of these safety zones is granted, peer support services. VA published a
and exercise First Amendment free vessels must proceed at a minimum companion substantially identical
speech rights safely and without speed for safe navigation and in proposed rule at 79 FR 70941, on the
interfering with other maritime traffic. accordance with any directions given by same date to serve as a proposal for the
Of particular note, large vessels the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or revisions in the direct final rule in case
operating in restricted waters cannot his designated representative. adverse comments were received. The
maneuver freely, nor can they stop (b) Dates. This rule will be enforced direct final rule and proposed rule each
immediately. As such, any First from October 23, 2015 through provided a 60-day comment period that
Amendment activity taking place in December 31, 2015. ended on January 27, 2015. No adverse
immediate proximity to such vessels Dated: October 23, 2015. comments were received. Six comments
can quickly result in extremis.
M.W. Raymond, that supported the rulemaking were
Individuals that desire to exercise their
First Amendment rights are asked to do Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the received from the general public. One
Port, Puget Sound. commenter also urged VA to exempt
so with full regard to vessel traffic
conditions and are requested to contact [FR Doc. 2015–28291 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am] evidence-based, cost-effective primary
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER BILLING CODE 9110–04–P care services from having a required
INTFORMATION CONTACT section to copayment. This comment is outside the
coordinate their activities so that their scope of this rulemaking, and therefore,
message can be heard, without DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS VA is not making any changes to this
jeopardizing the safety or security of AFFAIRS rulemaking based on this comment.
people, places, or vessels. Under the direct final rule procedures
38 CFR Part 17
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165 that were described in 79 FR 70938 and
RIN 2900–AP11 79 FR 70941, the direct final rule
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation
became effective on January 27, 2015,
(water), Reporting and recordkeeping Exempting Mental Health Peer Support
requirements, Security measures, Services From Copayments because no adverse comments were
Waterways. received within the comment period. In
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. a companion document in this issue of
For the reasons discussed in the
ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of the Federal Register, VA is withdrawing
preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33
CFR part 165 as follows: effective date. the proposed rulemaking, RIN 2900–
AP10, published at 79 FR 70941, as
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans unnecessary.
PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION Affairs (VA) published a direct final rule
AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS amending its regulation that governs VA Signing Authority
■ 1. The authority citation for part 165 services that are not subject to
copayment requirements for inpatient The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
continues to read as follows:
hospital care or outpatient medical care. designee, approved this document and
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; authorized the undersigned to sign and
Specifically, the regulation is amended
33 CFR 1.05–1, 6.04–1, 6.04–6, and 160.5; submit the document to the Office of the
Department of Homeland Security Delegation to exempt mental health peer support
No. 0170.1. services from having any required Federal Register for publication
copayment. VA received no adverse electronically as an official document of
■ 2. Add § 165.T13–302 to read as comments concerning the direct final the Department of Veterans Affairs.
follows: rule or its companion substantially Robert L. Nabors II, Chief of Staff,
§ 165.T13–302 Safety Zones; Shell Arctic identical proposed rule published in the Department of Veterans Affairs,
Drilling/Exploration Vessels, Puget Sound, Federal Register on the same date. This approved this document on October 26,
WA. document confirms that the direct final 2015, for publication.
(a) Safety Zones—(1) Location. The rule became effective on January 27,
Dated: November 2, 2015.
following areas are designated as safety 2015. In a companion document in this
Michael P. Shores,
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES

zones: All waters within 500 yards of issue of the Federal Register, we are
the following vessels while transiting withdrawing as unnecessary the Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation
within the U.S. Territorial or Internal proposed rule. Policy & Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
Waters of the Sector Puget Sound DATES: Effective Date: The effective date
Captain of the Port Zone as defined in of January 27, 2015, for the direct final [FR Doc. 2015–28259 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am]
33 CFR 3.65–10: NOBLE DISCOVERER, rule published November 28, 2014, 79 BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
POLAR PIONEER, and any other vessel FR 70938, is confirmed.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:34 Nov 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\05NOR1.SGM 05NOR1

Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:02:30
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:02:30

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Direct final rule; confirmation of effective date.
Contact		Kristin J. Cunningham, Director Business Policy, Chief Business Office (10NB6), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420; (202) 382-2508. (This is not a toll-free number.)
FR Citation		80 FR 68447
RIN Number		2900-AP11