About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

GAO-14-654R 1 (2014-06-09)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadqiu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: cIAO U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 441 G St. N.W. Washington, DC 20548 B-325882 June 9, 2014 The Honorable Bernie Sanders Chairman The Honorable Richard Burr Ranking Member Committee on Veterans' Affairs United States Senate The Honorable Jeff Miller Chairman The Honorable Michael H. Michaud Ranking Member Committee on Veterans' Affairs House of Representatives Subject: Department of Veterans Affairs: Copayments for Medications in 2014 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 Copayments for Medications in 2014 (RIN: 2900-AO91). We received the rule on May 21, 2014. It was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on May 27, 2014. 79 Fed. Reg. 30,043. The final rule adopts without change, an interim final rule that was published on December 30, 2013, (78 Fed. Reg. 79,315) amending the VA medical regulations to freeze the copayments required for certain medications provided by VA until December 31, 2014. Under that rule, the copayment amounts for all veterans were maintained at the same rates as they were in 2013, which were $8 for veterans in priority groups 2-6 and $9 for veterans in priority groups 7 and 8. On January 1, 2015, the copayment amounts may increase based on the prescription drug component of the Medical Consumer Price Index (CPI-P). This final rule is effective on May 27, 2014. 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). However, notwithstanding the 60-day delay requirement, any rule that an agency for good cause finds that notice and public procedures are impractical, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest is to take effect when the promulgating agency so determines. §§ 553(d)(3), 808(2). The Secretary of Veterans Affairs concluded that there is good cause under 5 U.S.C. §§ 553(b)(B) and (d)(3) to dispense with the opportunity for advance notice and opportunity for public comment and good cause to publish this rule with an immediate effective date. Enclosed is our assessment of VA's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801 (a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review of the procedural steps taken indicates that VA complied with all applicable requirements. GAO-14-654R

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most