83 FR 42982 - Announcement for Public Meeting Regarding Health Care Standards for Quality

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 165 (August 24, 2018)

Page Range		42982-42983
FR Document		2018-18439

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is holding a public meeting to seek information from pertinent entities relating to establishing standards for quality regarding hospital care, medical services, and extended care services furnished by the Department, including through non-Department health care providers.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 165 (Friday, August 24, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42982-42983]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18439]



[[Page 42982]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Announcement for Public Meeting Regarding Health Care Standards 
for Quality

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice--announcement of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is holding a public 
meeting to seek information from pertinent entities relating to 
establishing standards for quality regarding hospital care, medical 
services, and extended care services furnished by the Department, 
including through non-Department health care providers.

DATES: VA will hold the public meeting on Monday, September 24, 2018, 
in Arlington, VA. The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. and conclude on 
or before 4:00 p.m. Check-in will begin at 9:00 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Veterans Health 
Administration National Conference Center at 2011 Crystal Drive, 
Arlington, VA 22202. This facility is accessible to individuals with 
disabilities.
    * In-person attendance will be limited to 60 individuals. Advanced 
registration for individuals and groups is strongly encouraged (see 
registration instructions below). For listening purposes only (phone 
lines will be muted), the meeting will be available via audio which can 
be accessed by dialing 1 (800) 767-1750, access code 21398.
    Please submit all written comments no later than Tuesday, October 
16, 2018, by any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail, Hand Delivery, Courier: Postmarked no later than 
October 16, 2018, to: Director of Regulations Management (00REG), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Room 1063B, 
Washington, DC 20420. Note: Copies of comments received will be 
available for public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and 
Management, Room 1063B, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday (except Federal Holidays). Please call (202) 461-
4902 (this is not a toll-free number) for anappointment.
     Fax: (202) 273-9026, ATTENTION: Director of Regulations 
Management (00REG). All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number. Note that all comments received will be posted and can 
be viewed online through the Federal Docket Management System at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Rossio, Health System 
Specialist, Office of Strategic Integration/Veterans Resource Center, 
Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, (858) 245-9493. This is not a 
toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and 
Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening 
Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018, Public Law 115-182, (the VA 
MISSION Act) created a new 1703C in title 38, United States Code 
(U.S.C.), that contains requirements for VA to facilitate the 
establishment and use of standards for quality. Section 1703C(a)(4) 
specifically requires VA to consult with all pertinent Federal entities 
(including the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and 
Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), 
entities in the private sector, and other non-governmental entities in 
establishing standards for quality. In establishing standards for 
quality, VA is required to consider existing health quality measures 
that are applied to public and privately sponsored health care systems 
with the purpose of providing covered Veterans relevant comparative 
information to make informed decisions regarding their health care. VA 
requests information from the public regarding the development of these 
standards for quality, including but not limited to, information on the 
use of standards for quality and the use and availability of 
comparative information to assist consumers in making informed 
decisions regarding their health care. Responses to this notice will 
support industry research and VA's development of standards for quality 
regarding care furnished by the Department, including through non-
Department health care providers. This public meeting serves as one of 
the means for VA to consult with these groups and entities. We note 
that VA has published a request for information elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register in order to provide these groups and entities 
an opportunity to provide additional information. The request for 
information mentioned above can be found in www.regulations.gov under 
the title of ``Notice of Request for Information Regarding Health Care 
Standards for Quality.'' VA will use the statements and testimonials 
presented at the public meeting to help determine the standards for 
quality for health care in compliance with the VA MISSION Act. VA will 
then submit a report, no later than March 3, 2019, as required by 
section 1703C(a)(5)(A), detailing the standards for quality to the 
appropriate committees of Congress.
    In order to submit a report to Congress detailing the standards for 
quality by March 3, 2019, VA must expedite this consultation, which 
will be foundational to the process of determining the standards for 
quality.
    Registration: In-person attendance and participation in this 
meeting is limited to 60 individuals. VA has the right to refuse 
registration for in-person attendance once the maximum capacity of 60 
individuals has been reached. Individuals interested in attending in-
person should request registration by emailing Christopher Rossio at 
[email protected]. A confirmation message will be provided 
within 1-2 business days after a request has been received, and 
individuals will be notified via email by September 18, 2018, 
confirming their attendance in-person. Attendees wanting to offer oral 
comments, testimonies, and/or technical remarks should indicate their 
intentions upon registration.
    Individual registration: VA encourages individual registrations for 
those not affiliated with or representing a group, association, or 
organization.
    Group registration: Identification of the name of the group, 
association, or organization should be indicated in your registration 
request. Due to the meeting location's maximum capacity, VA may limit 
the size of a group's registration to allow receipt of comments, 
testimonies, and/or technical remarks from a broad, diverse group of 
stakeholders. Oral comments, testimonies, and/or technical remarks may 
be limited from a group, association, or organization with more than 
two (2) individuals representing the same group, association, or 
organization. Efforts will be made to accommodate all attendees who 
wish to attend in-person. However, VA will give priority for in-person 
attendance to pertinent Federal, private sector, and non-governmental 
entities who request registration before September 12, 2018, 4:00 p.m. 
ET, and wish to provide oral comments, testimonies, and/or technical 
remarks. Please provide the number and names of people your 
organization would like to send in-person, and VA will accommodate as 
space allows; organizations should list names in the order of 
importance of their attendance to ensure that VA allows admission for 
the right representatives. The length of time allotted for attendees to 
provide

[[Page 42983]]

oral comments, testimonies, and/or technical remarks during the meeting 
may be subject to the number of in-person attendees, and to ensure 
ample time is allotted to those registered attendees. There will be no 
opportunity for audio-visual presentations during the meeting. Written 
comments will be accepted from those attending in-person (see above 
instructions for submitting written comments).
    Audio (for listening purposes only): Limited to the first 200 
participants, on a first-come, first-served basis. Advanced 
registration is not required. Audio attendees will not be allowed to 
offer oral comments, testimonies, and/or technical remarks as the phone 
line will be muted. Written comments will be accepted from those 
participating via audio (see above instructions for submitting written 
comments).
    Note: VA will conduct the public meeting informally, and technical 
rules of evidence will not apply. VA will arrange for a written 
transcript of the meeting and keep the official record open for 15 days 
after the meeting to allow submission of supplemental information. You 
may make arrangements for copies of the transcript directly with the 
reporter, and the transcript will also be posted in the docket of the 
rule as part of the official record when the rule is published. Should 
it be necessary to cancel the meeting due to inclement weather or other 
emergencies, VA will take available measures to notify registered 
participants.

Agenda

09:00-10:00 Arrival/Check-In
10:00-12:00 Morning Public Meeting Session
12:00-13:00 Lunch Break (Note: Meals will not be provided by VA.)
13:00-16:00 Afternoon Public Meeting Session
16:00 Adjourn

Public Meeting Topics

    Pursuant to section 1703C(a)(3)-(4) of title 38, U.S.C., as added 
by section 104(a) of Public Law 115-182, (the VA MISSION Act), VA 
requests information that will assist in developing the standards for 
quality required by the VA MISSION Act. This includes datasets that 
include, at a minimum, elements relating to timely care, effective 
care, safety (including, at a minimum, complications, readmissions, and 
deaths), and efficiency.
    Specifically, VA requests information related to the below:
    1. What standards for quality do public or private providers or 
health systems currently use? How do public or private providers or 
health systems measure performance against these standards for quality 
(i.e., what data sets and measures are employed)? How are those 
standards and measures used to make decisions regarding patient 
referrals to specific public or private providers?
    2. How does the health system communicate standards for quality to 
their stakeholders?
    3. How are data on quality standards obtained or collected from 
public or private providers and health systems?
    4. Does the public or private provider or health system publicly 
report performance on those quality standards, including comparisons of 
quality measures, and in what manner?
    5. How does the public or private provider or health system respond 
to findings when quality standards are not being met?

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. 
Wilkie, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on August 21, 2018, for publication.

    Dated: August 21, 2018.
Michael Shores,
Director, Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-18439 Filed 8-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

42982 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS through the Federal Docket Management for quality for health care in compliance
AFFAIRS System at http://www.regulations.gov. with the VA MISSION Act. VA will then
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: submit a report, no later than March 3,
Announcement for Public Meeting Chris Rossio, Health System Specialist, 2019, as required by section
Regarding Health Care Standards for Office of Strategic Integration/Veterans 1703C(a)(5)(A), detailing the standards
Quality Resource Center, Veterans Health for quality to the appropriate
Administration, Department of Veterans committees of Congress.
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, In order to submit a report to Congress
ACTION: Notice—announcement of detailing the standards for quality by
public meeting. Washington, DC 20420, (858) 245–9493.
This is not a toll-free number. March 3, 2019, VA must expedite this
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The John
consultation, which will be
Affairs (VA) is holding a public meeting S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and foundational to the process of
to seek information from pertinent Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining determining the standards for quality.
entities relating to establishing Registration: In-person attendance
Internal Systems and Strengthening
standards for quality regarding hospital and participation in this meeting is
Integrated Outside Networks Act of
limited to 60 individuals. VA has the
care, medical services, and extended 2018, Public Law 115–182, (the VA
right to refuse registration for in-person
care services furnished by the MISSION Act) created a new 1703C in
attendance once the maximum capacity
Department, including through non- title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.),
of 60 individuals has been reached.
Department health care providers. that contains requirements for VA to
Individuals interested in attending in-
DATES: VA will hold the public meeting facilitate the establishment and use of
person should request registration by
on Monday, September 24, 2018, in standards for quality. Section emailing Christopher Rossio at
Arlington, VA. The meeting will start at 1703C(a)(4) specifically requires VA to christopher.rossio@va.gov. A
10:00 a.m. and conclude on or before consult with all pertinent Federal confirmation message will be provided
4:00 p.m. Check-in will begin at 9:00 entities (including the Department of within 1–2 business days after a request
a.m. Defense, the Department of Health and has been received, and individuals will
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Human Services, and the Centers for be notified via email by September 18,
the Veterans Health Administration Medicare & Medicaid Services), entities 2018, confirming their attendance in-
National Conference Center at 2011 in the private sector, and other non- person. Attendees wanting to offer oral
Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. governmental entities in establishing comments, testimonies, and/or technical
This facility is accessible to individuals standards for quality. In establishing remarks should indicate their intentions
with disabilities. standards for quality, VA is required to upon registration.
* In-person attendance will be limited consider existing health quality Individual registration: VA
to 60 individuals. Advanced registration measures that are applied to public and encourages individual registrations for
for individuals and groups is strongly privately sponsored health care systems those not affiliated with or representing
encouraged (see registration instructions with the purpose of providing covered a group, association, or organization.
below). For listening purposes only Veterans relevant comparative Group registration: Identification of
(phone lines will be muted), the meeting information to make informed decisions the name of the group, association, or
will be available via audio which can be regarding their health care. VA requests organization should be indicated in
accessed by dialing 1 (800) 767–1750, information from the public regarding your registration request. Due to the
access code 21398. the development of these standards for meeting location’s maximum capacity,
Please submit all written comments quality, including but not limited to, VA may limit the size of a group’s
no later than Tuesday, October 16, 2018, information on the use of standards for registration to allow receipt of
by any of the following methods: quality and the use and availability of comments, testimonies, and/or technical
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to comparative information to assist remarks from a broad, diverse group of
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the consumers in making informed stakeholders. Oral comments,
online instructions for submitting decisions regarding their health care. testimonies, and/or technical remarks
comments. Responses to this notice will support may be limited from a group,
• Mail, Hand Delivery, Courier: industry research and VA’s association, or organization with more
Postmarked no later than October 16, development of standards for quality than two (2) individuals representing
2018, to: Director of Regulations regarding care furnished by the the same group, association, or
Management (00REG), Department of Department, including through non- organization. Efforts will be made to
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue Department health care providers. This accommodate all attendees who wish to
NW, Room 1063B, Washington, DC public meeting serves as one of the attend in-person. However, VA will give
20420. Note: Copies of comments means for VA to consult with these priority for in-person attendance to
received will be available for public groups and entities. We note that VA pertinent Federal, private sector, and
inspection in the Office of Regulation has published a request for information non-governmental entities who request
Policy and Management, Room 1063B, elsewhere in this issue of the Federal registration before September 12, 2018,
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 Register in order to provide these 4:00 p.m. ET, and wish to provide oral
p.m., Monday through Friday (except groups and entities an opportunity to comments, testimonies, and/or technical
Federal Holidays). Please call (202) 461– provide additional information. The remarks. Please provide the number and
4902 (this is not a toll-free number) for request for information mentioned names of people your organization
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

anappointment. above can be found in would like to send in-person, and VA
• Fax: (202) 273–9026, ATTENTION: www.regulations.gov under the title of will accommodate as space allows;
Director of Regulations Management ‘‘Notice of Request for Information organizations should list names in the
(00REG). All submissions must include Regarding Health Care Standards for order of importance of their attendance
the agency name and docket number. Quality.’’ VA will use the statements to ensure that VA allows admission for
Note that all comments received will be and testimonials presented at the public the right representatives. The length of
posted and can be viewed online meeting to help determine the standards time allotted for attendees to provide

VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:17 Aug 23, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00124 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Notices 42983

oral comments, testimonies, and/or or private providers or health systems ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
technical remarks during the meeting measure performance against these submitted through http://
may be subject to the number of in- standards for quality (i.e., what data sets www.regulations.gov; by mail or hand
person attendees, and to ensure ample and measures are employed)? How are delivery to the Director, Office of
time is allotted to those registered those standards and measures used to Regulation Policy and Management
attendees. There will be no opportunity make decisions regarding patient (00REG), Department of Veterans
for audio-visual presentations during referrals to specific public or private Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
the meeting. Written comments will be providers? Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420; or
accepted from those attending in-person 2. How does the health system by fax to (202) 273–9026. Comments
(see above instructions for submitting communicate standards for quality to should indicate that they are submitted
written comments). their stakeholders? in response to ‘‘Notice of Request for
Audio (for listening purposes only): 3. How are data on quality standards Information Regarding Health Care
Limited to the first 200 participants, on obtained or collected from public or Standards for Quality.’’ Copies of
a first-come, first-served basis. private providers and health systems? comments received will be available for
Advanced registration is not required. 4. Does the public or private provider public inspection in the Office of
Audio attendees will not be allowed to or health system publicly report Regulation Policy and Management
offer oral comments, testimonies, and/or performance on those quality standards, (00REG), Department of Veterans
technical remarks as the phone line will including comparisons of quality Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
be muted. Written comments will be measures, and in what manner? Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420,
accepted from those participating via 5. How does the public or private between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30
audio (see above instructions for provider or health system respond to p.m., Monday through Friday (except
submitting written comments). findings when quality standards are not Federal holidays). Please call (202) 461–
Note: VA will conduct the public being met? 4902 (this is not a toll-free number) for
meeting informally, and technical rules an appointment. During the comment
Signing Authority
of evidence will not apply. VA will period, comments may also be viewed
arrange for a written transcript of the The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or online through the Federal Docket
meeting and keep the official record designee, approved this document and Management System at
open for 15 days after the meeting to authorized the undersigned to sign and www.regulations.gov.
allow submission of supplemental submit the document to the Office of the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
information. You may make Federal Register for publication
Chris Rossio, Health System Specialist,
electronically as an official document of
arrangements for copies of the transcript Office of Strategic Integration | Veterans
directly with the reporter, and the the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Engineering Resource Center
transcript will also be posted in the Robert L. Wilkie, Secretary, Department
(OSI|VERC), Veterans Health
docket of the rule as part of the official of Veterans Affairs, approved this
Administration, Department of Veterans
record when the rule is published. document on August 21, 2018, for
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Should it be necessary to cancel the publication.
Washington, DC 20420, (858) 245–9493.
meeting due to inclement weather or Dated: August 21, 2018. This is not a toll-free number.
other emergencies, VA will take Michael Shores, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The John
available measures to notify registered Director, Regulation Policy & Management, S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and
participants. Office of the Secretary, Department of Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining
Veterans Affairs. Internal Systems and Strengthening
Agenda
[FR Doc. 2018–18439 Filed 8–23–18; 8:45 am] Integrated Outside Networks Act of
09:00–10:00 Arrival/Check-In BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 2018, Public Law 115–182, (the VA
10:00–12:00 Morning Public Meeting
MISSION Act) created a new 1703C in
Session
12:00–13:00 Lunch Break (Note: Meals title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.),
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS that contains requirements for VA to
will not be provided by VA.) AFFAIRS
13:00–16:00 Afternoon Public Meeting facilitate the establishment and use of
Session standards for quality. In establishing
Notice of Request for Information
16:00 Adjourn standards for quality, VA is required to
Regarding Health Care Standards for
consider existing health quality
Public Meeting Topics Quality
measures that are applied to public and
Pursuant to section 1703C(a)(3)–(4) of AGENCY: Office of Reporting, Analytics, privately sponsored health care systems
title 38, U.S.C., as added by section Performance, Improvement, and with the purpose of providing covered
104(a) of Public Law 115–182, (the VA Deployment (RAPID), Veterans Health Veterans relevant comparative
MISSION Act), VA requests information Administration, Department of Veterans information to make informed decisions
that will assist in developing the Affairs. regarding their health care. VA requests
standards for quality required by the VA ACTION: Notice; request for information. information from the public regarding
MISSION Act. This includes datasets the development of these standards for
that include, at a minimum, elements SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans quality, including but not limited to
relating to timely care, effective care, Affairs (VA) is requesting information to information on the use of standards for
safety (including, at a minimum, assist in establishing health care quality and the use and availability of
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

complications, readmissions, and standards for quality regarding hospital comparative information to assist
deaths), and efficiency. care, medical services, and extended consumers in making informed
Specifically, VA requests information care services furnished by the decisions regarding their health care.
related to the below: Department, including through non- Responses to this notice will support
1. What standards for quality do Department health care providers. industry research and VA’s
public or private providers or health DATES: Comments must be received by development of standards for quality
systems currently use? How do public VA on or before September 24, 2018. regarding care furnished by the

VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:17 Aug 23, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00125 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1

Document Created: 2018-08-24 04:14:58
Document Modified: 2018-08-24 04:14:58

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--announcement of public meeting.
Dates		VA will hold the public meeting on Monday, September 24, 2018, in Arlington, VA. The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. and conclude on or before 4:00 p.m. Check-in will begin at 9:00 a.m.
Contact		Chris Rossio, Health System Specialist, Office of Strategic Integration/Veterans Resource Center, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, (858) 245-9493. This is not a toll-free number.
FR Citation		83 FR 42982