The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopts as final, with no changes, a proposed rule to revise its medical regulations concerning collection and recovery by VA for medical care and services provided to an individual at a VA medical facility for treatment of a nonservice-connected condition. Specifically, this rulemaking adds a regulation that establishes the requirements VA will use to determine whether a VA medical facility has provider-based status.
Mental health programs
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers Improvements and Amendments Under the VA MISSION Act of 2018
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopts as final, with changes, a proposed rule to revise its regulations that govern VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). This final rule makes improvements to PCAFC and updates the regulations to comply with the recent enactment of the VA MISSION Act of 2018, which made changes to the program’s authorizing statute. This final rule allows PCAFC to better address the needs of veterans of all eras and standardize the program to focus on eligible veterans with moderate and severe needs.
Home Visits in Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers During COVID-19 National Emergency
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is revising its regulations that govern VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) to relax the requirement for in-person home visits during the National Emergency related to Coronavirus Disease- 2019 (COVID-19). This change is required to ensure the safety and well- being of veterans, caregivers, and VA clinical staff.
Technical Correction to Reimbursement of Qualifying Adoption Expenses for Certain Veterans
This final rule will add the Office of Management and Budget approval number for the new collection of information in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulation that governs the reimbursement of qualifying adoption expenses incurred by a veteran with a service- connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment.
Informed Consent and Advance Directives
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its regulation regarding informed consent and advance directives. We amend the regulation by reorganizing it and amending language where necessary to enhance clarity. In addition, we amend the regulation to facilitate the informed consent process, the ability to communicate with patients or surrogates through available modalities of communication, and the execution and witness requirements for a VA Advance Directive.
