81 FR 997 - Reimbursement for Caskets and Urns for Burial of Unclaimed Remains in a National Cemetery

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 5 (January 8, 2016)

Page Range		997-998
FR Document		2016-00143

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is updating the monetary reimbursement rates for caskets and urns purchased for the interment in a VA national 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 (CY) 2016.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 997-998]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00143]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Reimbursement for Caskets and Urns for Burial of Unclaimed 
Remains in a National 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 the 
interment in a VA national 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 (CY) 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamula Jones, Budget Operations and 
Field Support Division, National Cemetery Administration, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420. 
Telephone: 202-461-6688 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 38, United States Code, Section 
2306(f) authorizes VA National Cemetery

[[Page 998]]

Administration to furnish a casket or urn for interment in a VA 
national 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 implemented regulations to administer this authority as a 
reimbursement benefit in Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 
38.628.
    Reimbursement for a claim received in any CY will not exceed the 
average cost of a 20-gauge metal casket or a durable plastic urn during 
the fiscal year (FY) preceding the CY of the claim. Average costs are 
determined by market 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 cremated human remains, which include a secure 
closure to contain the cremated remains.
    Using this method of computation, in FY 2015, the average costs for 
caskets were determined to be $2,421.00, and $244.00 for urns. 
Accordingly, the reimbursement rates payable for qualifying interments 
occurring during CY 2016 is $2,421.00 for caskets and $244 for urns.
    Request approval to publish in the Federal Register, VA's notice on 
the rates of reimbursement for caskets and urns for CY2016.

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 January 5, 2016 for publication.

    Dated: January 5, 2016.
Michael Shores,
Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office 
of the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-00143 Filed 1-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

$998 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2016 / Notices Administration to furnish a casket or Federal Register for publication Experience (explaining the efforts urn for interment in a VA national electronically as an official document of conducted to improve the Veteran’s cemetery of the unclaimed remains of the Department of Veterans Affairs. experience), Employees Experience, Veterans for whom VA cannot identify Robert L. Nabors II, Chief of Staff, Support Services Excellence (such as a next of kin and determines that Department of Veterans Affairs, information technology, human sufficient financial resources for the approved this document on January 5, resources, and finance), Performance furnishing of a casket or urn for burial 2016 for publication. Improvement (projects undertaken to are not available. VA implemented Dated: January 5, 2016. date and those upcoming), and VA regulations to administer this authority Michael Shores, Strategic Partnerships. as a reimbursement benefit in Title 38, Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation On February 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 Code of Federal Regulations, Section Policy & Management, Office of the General p.m., the Committee will meet to 38.628. Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs. discuss and recommend areas for Reimbursement for a claim received [FR Doc. 2016–00143 Filed 1–7–16; 8:45 am] improvement on VA’s work to date, in any CY will not exceed the average BILLING CODE 8320–01–P plans for the future, and integration of cost of a 20-gauge metal casket or a the MyVA efforts. This session is open durable plastic urn during the fiscal to the public. No time will be allocated year (FY) preceding the CY of the claim. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS at this meeting for receiving oral Average costs are determined by market AFFAIRS presentations from the public. However, analysis for 20-gauge metal caskets, the public may submit written designed to contain human remains, MyVA Federal Advisory Committee; statements for the Committee’s review with a gasketed seal, and external rails Notice of Meeting: Amended to Debra Walker, Designated Federal or handles. The same analysis is The Department of Veterans Affairs Officer, MyVA Program Management completed for durable plastic urns, (VA) gives notice under the Federal Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, designed to contain cremated human Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. 1800 G Street NW., Room 880–40, remains, which include a secure closure App.2., that the MyVA Advisory Washington, DC, 20420, or email at to contain the cremated remains. Committee (MVAC) will meet February Debra.Walker3@va.gov. Any member of Using this method of computation, in 1–2, 2016, at the Marriott Crystal the public wishing to attend the meeting FY 2015, the average costs for caskets Gateway, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, or seeking additional information were determined to be $2,421.00, and Arlington, VA 22202. should contact Ms. Walker. $244.00 for urns. Accordingly, the The purpose of the Committee is to Because the meeting will be held in reimbursement rates payable for advise the Secretary, through the a Government building, anyone qualifying interments occurring during Executive Director, MyVA Task Force attending must be prepared to show a CY 2016 is $2,421.00 for caskets and Office regarding the My VA initiative valid photo government issued ID. $244 for urns. and VA’s ability to rebuild trust with Please allow a minimum of one hour to Request approval to publish in the Veterans and other stakeholders, move through the security process, Federal Register, VA’s notice on the improve service delivery with a focus which includes a metal detector, prior rates of reimbursement for caskets and on Veteran outcomes, and set the course to the start of the meeting. urns for CY2016. for longer-term excellence and reform of VA. Dated: January 5, 2016. Signing Authority Jelessa Burney, On February 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or p.m., the Committee will meet to Federal Advisory Committee Management designee, approved this document and discuss the progress on, and the Officer. authorized the undersigned to sign and integration of, the work in the five key [FR Doc. 2016–00178 Filed 1–7–16; 8:45 am] submit the document to the Office of the MyVA work streams—Veteran BILLING CODE P mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES6 VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:39 Jan 13, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM 08JAN1$

Document Created: 2016-01-16 01:15:35
Document Modified: 2016-01-16 01:15:35

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.
Contact		Tamula Jones, Budget Operations and Field Support Division, National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420. Telephone: 202-461-6688 (this is not a toll-free number).
FR Citation		81 FR 997