81 FR 80166 - Tribal Health Programs-Community Care Consolidation
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 220 (November 15, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 220 (November 15, 2016)
| Page Range | 80166-80167 | |
| FR Document | 2016-27436 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 80166-80167] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-27436] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Tribal Health Programs--Community Care Consolidation AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Notice of tribal consultation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will facilitate a Tribal Consultation on VHA's effort to improve continuity of care and health care access for Veterans by consolidating multiple community care programs, previously known as non-VA care, into one standard program with standard rates. In October 2015, VA submitted to Congress the Plan to Consolidate Programs of Department of Veterans Affairs to Improve Access to Care, http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/VA_Community_Care_Report_11_03_2015.pdf, which lays out the vision for a consolidated community care program that is easy to understand, simple to administer, and meets the needs of Veterans, community providers, and VA staff. As VA continues to move forward with implementing the vision of the Plan, we again seek tribal input to assist VA in developing the network of providers in a manner that would build on VA's existing relationships with tribal health programs and facilitate future collaboration to improve health care services provided to all eligible, VA-enrolled Veterans, regardless of whether they are eligible for Indian Health Service-funded health care or not. We are seeking tribal consultation regarding the tribal health programs' participation in the core provider network, as outlined in the Plan, and potentially transitioning from the current reimbursement agreement structure to a model under which tribal health programs deliver care to all eligible, VA enrolled Veterans, using a standard reimbursement rate based on Medicare rates. DATES: Comments must be received by VA on or before November 30, 2016. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted by email at [email protected], by fax at 202-273-5716, or by mail at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Suite 915L, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420. [[Page 80167]] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Majed Ibrahim, VA Office of Community Care, VHA at (562) 400-3134 (this is not a toll-free number), or by email at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is seeking consultation and comments on the following questions: (1) What would be the impact of transitioning from the existing reimbursement agreement structure, which requires each tribe to enter into an individual reimbursement agreement with VA, to a standard arrangement for reimbursement of direct care services provided to eligible Veterans managed by a third party administrator for VA? (2) Would tribal health programs be interested in expanding direct care services under this new structure to include reimbursements for care provided to all Veterans enrolled in VA health care, regardless of whether they are eligible for health care funded by Indian Health Service (IHS) or not? (3) Would tribal health programs be interested in receiving standard reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates plus a feasible percentage of those rates to minimize improper payments and comply with industry standards? (4) Would tribal health programs be interested in extending existing reimbursement agreements between VA and tribal health programs through December 2018 and ensuring any new reimbursement agreements between VA and tribal health programs extend through December 2018, as VA works in collaboration with tribes and other VA stakeholders on implementing a consolidated community care program? Tribal leaders and/or their designated representatives and other interested parties are invited to attend and provide comments during the in-person consultation and/or submit written comments. Dated: November 9, 2016. Jeffrey Martin, Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs. [FR Doc. 2016-27436 Filed 11-14-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
![80166 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 220 / Tuesday, November 15, 2016 / Notices
exemptions are effective as of October drivers are not currently achieving the Issued on: November 1, 2016.
31, 2016, and will expire on October 31, statutory level of safety should Larry W. Minor,
2018. immediately notify FMCSA. The Associate Administrator for Policy.
Each of the 117 drivers in the Agency will evaluate any adverse [FR Doc. 2016–27396 Filed 11–14–16; 8:45 am]
aforementioned groups qualifies for a evidence submitted and, if safety is BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
renewal of the exemption. They have being compromised or if continuation of
maintained their required medical the exemption would not be consistent
monitoring and have not exhibited any with the goals and objectives of 49 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
medical issues that would compromise
U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA will AFFAIRS
their ability to safely operate a CMV
take immediate steps to revoke the
during the previous 2-year exemption Tribal Health Programs—Community
period. exemption of a driver.
Care Consolidation
These factors provide an adequate Submitting Comments
basis for predicting each driver’s ability AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
to continue to drive safely in interstate You may submit your comments and ACTION: Notice of tribal consultation.
commerce. Therefore, FMCSA material online or by fax, mail, or hand
concludes that extending the exemption delivery, but please use only one of SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans
for each of the 117 drivers for a period Affairs (VA), Veterans Health
these means. FMCSA recommends that
of two years is likely to achieve a level Administration (VHA) will facilitate a
you include your name and a mailing Tribal Consultation on VHA’s effort to
of safety equal to that existing without address, an email address, or a phone
the exemption. The drivers were improve continuity of care and health
number in the body of your document care access for Veterans by
included in docket numbers FMCSA– so that FMCSA can contact you if there
2010–0247; FMCSA–2012–0128; consolidating multiple community care
are questions regarding your programs, previously known as non-VA
FMCSA–2012–0217; FMCSA–2012– submission.
0219; FMCSA–2014–0021. care, into one standard program with
To submit your comment online, go to standard rates. In October 2015, VA
Request for Comments http://www.regulations.gov and in the submitted to Congress the Plan to
FMCSA will review comments search box insert the docket numbers Consolidate Programs of Department of
received at any time concerning a FMCSA–2010–0247; FMCSA–2012– Veterans Affairs to Improve Access to
particular driver’s safety record and 0128; FMCSA–2012–0217; FMCSA– Care, http://www.va.gov/opa/
determine if the continuation of the 2012–0219; FMCSA–2014–0021 and publications/VA_Community_Care_
exemption is consistent with the click the search button. When the new Report_11_03_2015.pdf, which lays out
requirements at 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and the vision for a consolidated community
screen appears, click on the blue
31315. However, FMCSA requests that care program that is easy to understand,
‘‘Comment Now!’’ button on the right
interested parties with specific data simple to administer, and meets the
hand side of the page. On the new page, needs of Veterans, community
concerning the safety records of these enter information required including the
drivers submit comments by December providers, and VA staff. As VA
specific section of this document to continues to move forward with
15, 2016.
FMCSA believes that the which each comment applies, and implementing the vision of the Plan, we
requirements for a renewal of an provide a reason for each suggestion or again seek tribal input to assist VA in
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and recommendation. If you submit your developing the network of providers in
31315 can be satisfied by initially comments by mail or hand delivery, a manner that would build on VA’s
granting the renewal and then submit them in an unbound format, no existing relationships with tribal health
requesting and evaluating, if needed, larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for programs and facilitate future
subsequent comments submitted by copying and electronic filing. If you collaboration to improve health care
interested parties. As indicated above, submit comments by mail and would services provided to all eligible, VA-
the Agency previously published like to know that they reached the enrolled Veterans, regardless of whether
notices of final disposition announcing facility, please enclose a stamped, self- they are eligible for Indian Health
its decision to exempt these 117 addressed postcard or envelope. Service-funded health care or not. We
individuals from rule prohibiting are seeking tribal consultation regarding
We will consider all comments and the tribal health programs’ participation
persons with ITDM from operating material received during the comment
CMVs in interstate commerce in 49 CFR in the core provider network, as
period. FMCSA may issue a final outlined in the Plan, and potentially
391.41(b)(3). The final decision to grant determination at any time after the close
an exemption to each of these transitioning from the current
of the comment period. reimbursement agreement structure to a
individuals was made on the merits of
each case and made only after careful Viewing Comments and Documents model under which tribal health
consideration of the comments received programs deliver care to all eligible, VA
to its notices of applications. The To view comments, as well as any enrolled Veterans, using a standard
notices of applications stated in detail documents mentioned in this preamble, reimbursement rate based on Medicare
the medical condition of each applicant go to http://www.regulations.gov and in rates.
for an exemption from rule prohibiting the search box insert the docket number DATES: Comments must be received by
persons with ITDM from operating FMCSA–2010–0247; FMCSA–2012– VA on or before November 30, 2016.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
CMVs in interstate commerce. That 0128; FMCSA–2012–0217; FMCSA– ADDRESSES: Written comments should
information is available by consulting 2012–0219; FMCSA–2014–0021 and be submitted by email at
the above cited Federal Register click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, click ‘‘Open Tribalgovernmentconsultation@va.gov,
publications. Docket Folder’’ and you will find all by fax at 202–273–5716, or by mail at
Interested parties or organizations documents and comments related to this U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
possessing information that would notice. Suite 915L, 810 Vermont Avenue NW.,
otherwise show that any, or all, of these Washington, DC 20420.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 220 / Tuesday, November 15, 2016 / Notices 80167
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: services under this new structure to through December 2018, as VA works in
Majed Ibrahim, VA Office of include reimbursements for care collaboration with tribes and other VA
Community Care, VHA at (562) 400– provided to all Veterans enrolled in VA stakeholders on implementing a
3134 (this is not a toll-free number), or health care, regardless of whether they consolidated community care program?
by email at majed.ibrahim@va.gov. are eligible for health care funded by Tribal leaders and/or their designated
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is Indian Health Service (IHS) or not?
(3) Would tribal health programs be representatives and other interested
seeking consultation and comments on parties are invited to attend and provide
the following questions: interested in receiving standard
(1) What would be the impact of reimbursement rates based on Medicare comments during the in-person
transitioning from the existing rates plus a feasible percentage of those consultation and/or submit written
reimbursement agreement structure, rates to minimize improper payments comments.
which requires each tribe to enter into and comply with industry standards? Dated: November 9, 2016.
an individual reimbursement agreement (4) Would tribal health programs be Jeffrey Martin,
with VA, to a standard arrangement for interested in extending existing
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation
reimbursement of direct care services reimbursement agreements between VA
Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary,
provided to eligible Veterans managed and tribal health programs through Department of Veterans Affairs.
by a third party administrator for VA? December 2018 and ensuring any new
[FR Doc. 2016–27436 Filed 11–14–16; 8:45 am]
(2) Would tribal health programs be reimbursement agreements between VA
interested in expanding direct care and tribal health programs extend BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
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Document Created: 2016-11-15 00:48:05
Document Modified: 2016-11-15 00:48:05
| 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 | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of tribal consultation. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received by VA on or before November 30, 2016. | |
| Contact | Majed Ibrahim, VA Office of Community Care, VHA at (562) 400-3134 (this is not a toll-free number), or by email at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 80166 |
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