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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>2900-AQ30</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201804</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>2900</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Veterans Affairs</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>VA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Modifying Copayments for At Risk Veterans</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<p>The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its medical regulations that govern copayments for outpatient medical care and medications by eliminating the copayment for outpatient care and the increased medication copayment for at risk veterans. VA&rsquo;s program for suicide prevention includes strong recommendations for increased contacts with mental health providers for patients at risk for suicide. Where relevant, increased contacts with providers for pain management services are also important. However, veterans concerned about increased copayments may resist additional encounters. Moreover, VA has noted that there are substantial numbers of veterans who are at risk of suicide by overdosing from VA prescribed medications. By dispensing smaller amounts of certain medications at each occasion for dispensing, VA would be proactive in decreasing the risk of suicide in the veteran population. However, veterans concerned about the increased copayments from more frequent dispensing of lower amounts of medication may resist these changes. To facilitate suicide prevention, VA proposes to eliminate the outpatient care copayment and the increase in medication copayments for veterans who present a risk of suicide when the frequency of encounters for mental health or pain management or the number of times medications are dispensed are increased as part of VA&rsquo;s response to their risk of suicide.</p>
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        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>First Time Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <EO_13771_DESIGNATION>Other</EO_13771_DESIGNATION>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>38 CFR 17.108</CFR>
            <CFR>38 CFR 17.110</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>38 U.S.C. 1710(g)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>38 U.S.C. 1722A</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>10/00/2018</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Kathleen</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Lysell</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>National Mental Health Director for Informatics</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>2900</CODE>
                    <NAME>Department of Veterans Affairs</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>VA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>808 433-0045</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>kathleen.lysell@va.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>810 Vermont Avenue NW.,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20420</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
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