Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/10/23/2013-24625/designee-for-patient-personal-property
Timestamp: 2017-11-18 14:09:53
Document Index: 672349416

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Federal Register :: Designee for Patient Personal Property
A Proposed Rule by the Veterans Affairs Department on 10/23/2013
Comments must be received by VA on or before December 23, 2013.
63139-63143 (5 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-24625 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-24625
Written comments may be submitted through www.regulations.gov;​ by mail or hand-delivery to the Director, Regulation Policy and Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202) 273-9026. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to “RIN 2900-AO41, Designee for Patient Personal Property.” Copies of comments received will be available for public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room 1063B, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). Call (202) 461-4902 for an appointment. (This is not a toll-free number.) In addition, during the comment period, comments may be viewed online through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at http://www.regulations.gov.
If a competent veteran who is receiving VA medical care dies in a VA field facility, any funds and personal effects belonging to the veteran must be turned over to the person who had been designated by the veteran upon admission to such VA field facility. VA requests and encourages a competent veteran to designate an individual and provide the facility with the individual's information in order to facilitate the process of disposition of the veteran's funds and personal effects in the event of his or her death, and to help alleviate some of the burden on the deceased veteran's survivors.
Current § 12.1(a) states that a competent veteran who is admitted to receive VA care will be requested and encouraged to designate on the prescribed VA Form 10-P-10, Application for Hospital Treatment or Domiciliary Care, a person to whom VA would deliver the veteran's funds and effects in the event of such veteran's death. When this regulation was originally written in 1948, VA Form 10-P-10 was the VA form used by veterans to apply for hospital or domiciliary care in the VA health care system. VA Form 10-P-10 contained a space for a veteran to designate a person who would receive the veteran's funds and effects in the event of the veteran's death in a VA field facility. The veteran provided the name and address of the designee, as well as an alternate designee, on the form. However, VA Form 10-P-10 is an obsolete form that is no longer used by VA. The current form that veterans use to apply for enrollment in the VA health care system is VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits. However, VA Form 10-10EZ does not include a space for a veteran to designate someone to receive his or her funds and effects.
VA currently requests a veteran to name a designee during the registration process when VA admits a veteran for care at a VA field facility. The designee information is recorded by VA personnel directly into the veteran's record in the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), VA's patient database. The veteran is requested to verify the designation each subsequent Start Printed Page 63140time the veteran is admitted, during the registration process. However, having a VA employee enter the designee into VistA without having a signed written designation by the veteran increases the risk for litigation against VA by the veteran's survivors. The veteran's survivors may claim the designee was not appointed by the veteran because the veteran did not sign a document to designate such individual to receive his or her personal funds and effects. In order to reduce the risk of litigation, we propose to create a new VA form. VA would encourage a competent veteran to complete and sign this form upon admittance to receive VA medical care. On said form, the veteran would designate an individual to receive the veteran's funds and effects in the event that such veteran were to die while receiving VA medical care. Proposed paragraph (a)(1) would state: “Upon admission to a VA field facility, VA will request and encourage a competent veteran to designate in writing, on the relevant VA form, an individual to whom VA will deliver the veteran's funds and effects in the event of the veteran's death in such VA field facility.” In proposed paragraph (a)(5), we would state that, to be effective, a completed form must be received by the facility head or facility designee prior to the veteran's death. We would not include the form number in proposed paragraph (a) in order to avoid future amendments in the event that such form should change.
Current paragraph (a) also states: “The veteran may in writing change or revoke such designation at any time.” We propose to restate this requirement, reworded for clarity, as proposed paragraph (a)(2). Proposed paragraph (a)(2) would state: “The veteran may change or revoke a designation in writing, on the relevant VA form, at any time.”
We also propose to restructure § 12.1 for ease of readability. Current § 12.1(a) is a long and very dense paragraph containing information on several key elements of the designation process. We propose to divide it into several smaller paragraphs to make the information easier to find.
Section 8502 of title 38, United States Code, does not restrict whom the veteran may designate to receive the veteran's funds or effects in the event that such veteran dies in a VA field facility. However, to ensure compliance with the rules regarding government ethics, current § 12.1(a) states that “[t]he person designated may not be an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs unless such employee be the wife (or husband), child, grandchild, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother, or sister of the veteran.” In proposed § 12.1(a)(4), we would continue to disallow as a possible designee a VA employee who is not a member of the veteran's family simply to avoid any potential for impropriety or the appearance thereof.
However, we believe that the list of potential designees in the current rule should be broadened to accommodate other members of the veteran's family who are not on the list. The determination of the designee is an expression of preference by the veteran and restricting this determination to a limited pool of family members may prevent the veteran from designating a trusted individual in the veteran's extended family because they are employed by VA. Thus, we propose to eliminate this list and simply state, in proposed paragraph (a)(4), that the designee may not be a VA employee unless such employee is a member of the veteran's family. We would also define the term “family member” for purposes of this section to include “the spouse, parent, child, step family member, extended family member or an individual who lives with the veteran but is not a relative of the veteran.”
Proposed paragraph (a)(3) would cross-reference § 12.5, Nondesignee cases, for instances in which the designee is unable or unwilling to accept the delivery of funds and effects. We would also cross-reference § 12.5 for instances in which the veteran does not provide a designee. Because § 12.5 provides a process for VA to follow when no designee exists or when a designee is unable or unwilling to accept the delivery of funds and effects, we propose to eliminate the need for the veteran to name an alternate designee, as stated in current paragraph (a). This will also ease any burden on the veteran to make an additional designation.
Proposed paragraph (b) would incorporate the language from current paragraph (a) that states that the delivery of the veteran's funds or effects does not affect the title to such funds or effects or the person ultimately entitled to receive them. Proposed paragraph (b) would restructure the language of paragraph (a) for ease of readability, without change in content.
Current paragraph (a) also states that if a veteran becomes incompetent while admitted to VA care, any designation that the veteran had previously made will become inoperative with respect to the funds deposited by VA in the Personal Funds of Patients account that are derived from gratuitous benefits under laws administered by VA. It further states that the veteran's guardian may change or revoke the existing designation with regards to the personal effects and funds derived from other sources. We propose to add a new paragraph to explain what happens to Personal Funds of Patients accounts when a veteran becomes incompetent. VA has authority, under 38 U.S.C. 5502(a)(1), to appoint an individual to manage a veteran's VA benefits after VA determines that the veteran is incompetent. The term that VA uses for this individual is “fiduciary.”
Section 5506 of title 38, United States Code, defines the term “fiduciary,” for purposes of chapters 55 and 61 of 38, United States Code, as “(1) a person who is a guardian, curator, conservator, committee, or person legally vested with the responsibility or care of a claimant (or a claimant's estate) or of a beneficiary (or a beneficiary's estate); or (2) any other person having been appointed in a representative capacity to receive money paid under any of the laws administered by the Secretary for the use and benefit of a minor, incompetent, or other beneficiary.” The term “fiduciary” is different than the term “guardian” as the latter term is currently used in paragraph (a). The term “guardian” in current paragraph (a) refers to a guardian or conservator appointed by a state court after such court makes a determination that a veteran is incompetent.
VA may, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 5502(a) and 38 CFR 13.55, conclude that a veteran is incompetent to manage his or her VA-derived funds based on medical evidence without the need of a court determination and, as a result, appoint a fiduciary, who may or may not be the guardian appointed by the state court. The VA-appointed fiduciary is authorized by VA to manage the veteran's monetary VA benefits, while a court-appointed guardian or conservator may be authorized to manage all of the veteran's affairs. We would state in proposed paragraph (c) that if an order of a state court determines that a veteran is incompetent or if a VA clinician determines that the veteran is unable to manage monetary VA benefits after such veteran is admitted in a VA field facility, then “[t]he VA field facility staff will contact the Veterans Benefits Administration for the application of 38 CFR 3.353, regarding an incompetency rating as to whether the veteran is able to manage monetary VA benefits, and, if appropriate, 38 CFR 13.55, regarding VA fiduciary appointments.” We would also state that the Veterans Benefits Administration's determination of a veteran being incompetent to manage VA benefits would negate any designation under paragraph (a) of this Start Printed Page 63141section with regards to VA benefits deposited by VA into the Personal Funds of Patients. However, the Veterans Benefits Administration's determination of a veteran being incompetent to manage VA benefits will not change the veteran's designation regarding “disposition of funds and personal effects derived from non-VA sources, unless a court-appointed guardian or conservator changes or revokes the existing designation.”
Proposed paragraph (c) would also not include the term “gratuitous benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs,” which appears in the current regulation. This is an archaic term that is no longer used in VA, and we believe that the public will find it confusing. The modern convention of this term is “VA benefits.” For this same reason, we propose to remove the phrase “funds derived from gratuitous benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs” from § 12.0 and replace it with “funds derived from VA benefits.” For this same reason, we would also make similar changes to §§ 12.2(a), 12.3(a)(1), 12.4(a), 12.4(d), 12.5(c), 12.5(d).
We would move the content of current § 12.1(b) to proposed § 12.1(d), and would add that VA will encourage a veteran to place articles of little or no use to the veteran during the period of care in the custody of either a family member or a friend, whereas the current rule refers only to the veteran's “relatives.”
We also propose to amend the authority citation for 38 CFR part 12. The current authority citation for part 12 is “72 Stat. 1114, 1259, as amended; 38 U.S.C. 501, 8510.” We propose to delete the reference to “72 Stat. 1114, 1259, as amended,” because it is an outdated method of referencing VA statutory authority. The current method of citation is to title 38 of the United States Code. We also propose to correct the citation because 38 U.S.C. 8510 is not the sole authority for 38 CFR part 12. Chapter 85 of title 38, United States Code, applies to all the sections within 38 CFR part 12. We, therefore, propose to amend the authority citation for 38 CFR part 12 to state “Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 8501-8528.”
This proposed rule includes a provision constituting a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521) that requires approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Specifically, proposed § 12.1 contains a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Accordingly, under section 3507(d), VA has submitted a copy of this rulemaking action to OMB for review. OMB assigns control numbers to collections of information it approves. VA may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. If OMB does not approve the collections of information as requested, VA will immediately remove the provisions containing a collection of information or take such other action as is directed by OMB.
Comments on the collection of information contained in this proposed rule should be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503, with copies sent by mail or hand delivery to: Director, Office of Regulation Policy and Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; fax to (202) 273-9026; or through www.Regulations.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to “2900-AO41-Designee for Patient Personal Property.”
The proposed amendments to 38 CFR 12.1 contain a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for which we are requesting approval by OMB. This collection of information is described immediately following this paragraph.
Title: Designee for Patient Personal Property.
Summary of collection of information: The information required in § 12.1 would allow the veteran, upon admission to a VA field facility, to designate a person to receive the veteran's funds or effects in the event that the veteran dies while admitted to such VA field facility. The information required in § 12.1 would also allow the veteran to change or revoke such designee.
Description of the need for information and proposed use of information: If the veteran dies in a VA field facility, any funds or personal effects belonging to the veteran must be turned over to a person designated by the veteran. VA requests and encourages a veteran to name a person as a designee in order to facilitate the process of disposition of the veteran's funds and effects. VA also allows the veteran the opportunity to change or revoke such designee at any time. The information obtained through this collection eliminates some of the burden on the deceased veteran's survivors in the event of the veteran's death in a VA field facility.
Description of likely respondents: Veterans admitted to a VA field facility.
Estimated number of respondents per year: 165,844.
Estimated total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden: 8,292 hours per year.
The Secretary hereby certifies that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as Start Printed Page 63142they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. This proposed rule would directly affect only individuals and would not directly affect small entities. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this rulemaking is exempt from the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of sections 603 and 604.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance program numbers and titles for this proposed rule are as follows: 64.007, Blind Rehabilitation Centers; 64.008, Veterans Domiciliary Care; 64.009, Veterans Medical Care Benefits; 64.010, Veterans Nursing Home Care; 64.019, Veterans Rehabilitation—Alcohol and Drug Dependence.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jose D. Riojas, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on September 30, 2013, for publication.
Estates; Veterans
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, we propose to amend 38 CFR part 12 as follows:
§ 12.0
2. Amend § 12.0 paragraph (b) by removing the phrase “funds derived from gratuitous benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs” and adding, in its place, “funds derived from VA benefits”.
3. Revise § 12.1 to read as follows:
Designee cases; competent veterans.
(3) If the veteran does not name a designee or if a designee is unable or unwilling to accept delivery of funds or effects, § 12.5 Nondesignee cases, applies.
(The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information collection requirement in this section under control number 2900-XXXX.)
4. In § 12.2 amend paragraph (a) by removing the phrase “funds deposited by the Department of Veterans Affairs in Personal Funds of Patients which were derived from gratuitous benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs” and adding, in its place, “funds deposited by VA in Personal Funds of Patients that were derived from VA benefits”.
5. In § 12.3 amend paragraph (a)(1) by removing the phrase “funds deposited by the Department of Veterans Affairs in Personal Funds of Patients which were derived from gratuitous benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs” and adding, in its place, “funds deposited by VA in Personal Funds of Patients that were derived from VA benefits,” and by removing the word “gratuitous” and adding, in its place “VA”.
6. Amend § 12.4 by:
a. In paragraph (a), removing the phrase “funds on deposit in Personal Funds of Patients derived from gratuitous benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and deposited by the Department of Veterans Affairs” and adding, in its place, “funds deposited by VA in Personal Funds of Patients that were derived from VA benefits”.
b. In paragraph (d), removing the phrase “funds deposited by the Department of Veterans Affairs in Personal Funds of Patients derived from gratuitous benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs” and adding, in its place, “funds deposited by VA in Personal Funds of Patients that were derived from VA benefits”.
7. Amend § 12.5 by:
a. In paragraph (c), removing the phrase “gratuitous benefits deposited by the Department of Veterans Affairs in Personal Funds of Patients under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs” and adding, in its place, “funds deposited by VA in Personal Funds of Patients that were derived from VA benefits”.
b. In paragraph (d), removing the phrase “gratuitous benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs” and adding, in its place, “VA benefits”; and removing “funds derived from gratuitous” and adding, in its place, “funds derived from VA”.
[FR Doc. 2013-24625 Filed 10-22-13; 8:45 am]