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GAO-16-233R 1 (2015-11-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadrqd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: c AO U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 441 G St. N.W. Washington, DC 20548 B-327510 November 17, 2015 The Honorable Johnny Isakson Chairman The Honorable Richard Blumenthal Ranking Member Committee on Veterans' Affairs United States Senate The Honorable Jeff Miller Chairman The Honorable Corrine Brown Ranking Member Committee on Veterans' Affairs House of Representatives Subject: Department of Veterans Affairs: Expanded Access to Non-VA Care Through the Veterans Choice Program Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) entitled Expanded Access to Non-VA Care Through the Veterans Choice Program (RIN: 2900-AP24). We received the rule on November 2, 2015. It was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on October 29, 2015. 80 Fed. Reg. 66,419. The final rule amends the VA 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, and published a subsequent interim final rule making further amendments on April 24, 2015. The final rule responds to public comments received from both interim final rules and amends the regulations to modify payment rates under the Program. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) requires a 60-day delay in the effective date of a major rule from the date of publication in the Federal Register or receipt of the rule by Congress, whichever is later. 5 U.S.C. § 801(a)(3)(A). The final rule has a stated effective date of October 29, 2015. The rule was received on November 2, 2015, and was published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2015. Therefore, the final rule does not have the required 60-day delay in its effective date. The 60-day delay in effective date can be waived, however, if the agency finds for good cause that delay is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, and the agency incorporates a statement of the findings and its reasons in the GAO-16-233R