[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40831-40832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18158]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0606]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Regulation for Submission 
of Evidence

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed 
collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish 
notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved 
collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before October 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Brian McCarthy, Veterans Health Administration, Office of 
Regulatory and Administrative Affairs (10B4), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420 or email to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e4a6968d858acaa987a78596908c9dd0a49285ca838b92"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="41033328202f6f0c22022033352938750137206f262e37">[email protected]</span></a>. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0606'' 
in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be 
viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian McCarthy at (202) 461-6345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must 
obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each 
collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for 
comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VHA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VHA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Authority: U.S. Code: 38 U.S.C. 1729.
    Title: Regulation for Submission of Evidence--Title 38 CFR 
17.101(a)(4).
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0606.
    Type of Review: Renewal of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Under the provisions of 38 CFR, Section 17.101(a)(4), 
entitled ``Amount of Recovery or Collection--Third Party Liability'', a 
third-party payer that is liable for reimbursing VA for health care VA 
provided to Veterans with non- service-connected conditions continues 
to have the option of paying either the billed charges as described in 
Section 17.101 or the amount the health plan demonstrates it would pay 
to providers other than entities of the United States for the same care 
or services in the same geographic area. If

[[Page 40832]]

the amount submitted for payment is less than the amount billed, VA 
will accept the submission as payment, subject to verification at VA's 
discretion. A VA employee having responsibility for collection of such 
charges may request that the third party payer submit evidence or 
information to substantiate the appropriateness of the payment amount 
(e.g., health plan policies, provider agreements, medical evidence, 
proof of payment to other providers demonstrating the amount paid for 
the same care and services VA provided). This information would be 
needed to determine whether the third-party payer has met the test of 
properly demonstrating its equivalent private sector provider payment 
amount for the same care or services and within the same geographic 
area as provided by VA. This form provides for requesting patient 
medical records, health plan policies, provider agreements and any type 
or records that provide evidence of medical services and proof of 
payments made to others for the same medical care and services.
    If VA accepts the submitted payment that is less than the billed 
charges, the third party payer can be subject to rate verification. In 
the event that rate verification is conducted, the results can be used 
to negotiate better rates, recoup underpayments, or amend agreements. 
Absent a third party payer agreement, VA should also be reimbursed 
billed charges or the amount third party payers would pay to non-
government entities.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 800 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 120 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 400.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Cynthia Harvey-Pryor,
Department Clearance Officer Office of Quality and Compliance, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-18158 Filed 8-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P


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