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VA RIN: 2900-AP24 Publication ID: Spring 2015 
Title: Driving Distance Eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program 
Abstract:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its medical regulations implementing section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, which directed VA to establish a program to furnish hospital care and medical services through eligible non-VA health care providers to eligible veterans who either cannot be seen within the wait-time goals of the Veterans Health Administration or who qualify based on their place of residence (hereafter referred to as the Veterans Choice Program, or the Program”).  VA published an interim final rule implementing the Veterans Choice Program on November 5, 2014.  Under current law, VA uses a straight-line or geodesic distance to determine eligibility based on place of residence.  This interim final rule modifies how VA measures the distance from a veteran’s residence to the nearest VA medical facility.  This modified standard will consider the distance the veteran must drive to the nearest VA medical facility, rather than the straight-line or geodesic distance to such a facility.

 
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs(VA)  Priority: Economically Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: Yes  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 38 CFR 17.108    38 CFR 17.110    38 CFR 17.111    38 CFR 17.1500    38 CFR 17.1505    38 CFR 17.1510    38 CFR 17.1515    38 CFR 17.1520    38 CFR 17.1525    38 CFR 17.1530    38 CFR 17.1535    38 CFR 17.1540   
Legal Authority: Sec 101, Pub. L. 113-146    128 Stat 1754    38 U.S.C. 501    38 U.S.C. 1710    38 U.S.C. 1710B    38 U.S.C. 1720B    38 U.S.C. 1720D    38 U.S.C. 1722A    38 U.S.C. 1730A   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Interim Final Rule  11/05/2014  79 FR 65571   
Interim Final Rule Effective  11/05/2014 
Interim Final Rule Comment Period End  03/05/2015 
2nd Interim Final Rule  05/00/2015 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Information URL: www.regulations.gov   Public Comment URL: www.regualtions.gov  
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Chris Henson
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20420
Phone:202 461-7085
Email: christopher.henson@va.gov