MGMT520week2homework part 2
Department of Veterans Affairs
The Veterans Choice Program
On August 7, 2014, the President signed into law the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (“the Act,” Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754). Further technical revisions to the Act were made on September 26, 2014, when the President signed into law the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-175, 128 Stat. 1901, 1906). Section 101 of the Act creates the Veterans Choice Program (“the Program”). Section 101 requires the Secretary to furnish hospital care and medical services to certain eligible veterans through agreements with identified eligible entities or providers. Sec. 101(a)(1)(A), Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754. Delivery of such care through non-VA health care providers will be at the election of eligible veterans. This interim final rulemaking primarily restates these mandates and prescriptions in a regulatory framework, and provides guidance where Congress' instructions were not clearly executable on the face of the law. Congress directed VA to publish interim final regulations concerning this program within 90 days of enactment. Sec. 101(n), Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754. This rulemaking complies with that mandate.
Nothing in this rulemaking modifies VA's existing authority to furnish non-VA care, such as under 38 U.S.C. 1703, 1725, 1728, 8111, or 8153. The requirements of those statutes and their implementing regulations continue to apply, and VA will use those authorities when appropriate. Any veteran currently receiving non-VA care who is eligible for the Program will be provided the opportunity to elect to participate in the Program or to continue being provided care under VA's other authorities. As discussed below, there are some differences between the Program and other non-VA care.
VA is making changes to several other regulations as part of this rulemaking. Specifically, VA is amending 38 CFR 17.108, 17.110, and 17.111 concerning
The Veterans Choice Program
On August 7, 2014, the President signed into law the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (“the Act,” Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754). Further technical revisions to the Act were made on September 26, 2014, when the President signed into law the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-175, 128 Stat. 1901, 1906). Section 101 of the Act creates the Veterans Choice Program (“the Program”). Section 101 requires the Secretary to furnish hospital care and medical services to certain eligible veterans through agreements with identified eligible entities or providers. Sec. 101(a)(1)(A), Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754. Delivery of such care through non-VA health care providers will be at the election of eligible veterans. This interim final rulemaking primarily restates these mandates and prescriptions in a regulatory framework, and provides guidance where Congress' instructions were not clearly executable on the face of the law. Congress directed VA to publish interim final regulations concerning this program within 90 days of enactment. Sec. 101(n), Public Law 113-146, 128 Stat. 1754. This rulemaking complies with that mandate.
Nothing in this rulemaking modifies VA's existing authority to furnish non-VA care, such as under 38 U.S.C. 1703, 1725, 1728, 8111, or 8153. The requirements of those statutes and their implementing regulations continue to apply, and VA will use those authorities when appropriate. Any veteran currently receiving non-VA care who is eligible for the Program will be provided the opportunity to elect to participate in the Program or to continue being provided care under VA's other authorities. As discussed below, there are some differences between the Program and other non-VA care.
VA is making changes to several other regulations as part of this rulemaking. Specifically, VA is amending 38 CFR 17.108, 17.110, and 17.111 concerning