2019-16102. Agency Information Collection Activity: State Home Programs for Veterans

AGENCY:

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 September 30, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to Brian McCarthy, Office of Regulatory and Administrative Affairs (10B4), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or email to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0160” in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian McCarthy at [phone].

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: Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.

Title: State Home Programs for Veterans (VA Forms 10-5588, 10-5588A, and 10-10SH).

OMB Control Number: 2900-0160.

Type of Review: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection.

Abstract: Congress passed Public Law 115-159, the State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017, requiring VA to pay State homes for medical model adult day health care to certain eligible Veterans, and Title 38, CFR part 52, which provides for the payment of per diem to State homes that provide adult day health care to eligible Veterans. It also continues to provide for the payment of per diem to State homes that provide care to eligible Veterans in accordance with Title 38, CFR part 51. The intended effect of these provisions is to provide a safeguard that Veterans are receiving high quality care in State homes.

This information collection is necessary to ensure that VA per diem payments are limited to facilities providing high quality care. To verify this level of care, VA requires those facilities providing nursing home care, domiciliary, and adult day health care programs to Veterans to supply various kinds of information. The information required includes an application/eligibility for admission and justification for payment; records and reports which facility management must maintain regarding activities of payment for eligible residents or participants; and the records and reports that facilities management and health care professionals must maintain regarding the level of care approved for residents or participants.

This OMB Control Number previously included six additional forms, VA Forms 10-0460, 10-0143, 10-0143A, 10-0144, 10-0144A, and 10-3567, which have now been separated out into another information collection (to be approved under a separate OMB Control Number). This information collection, under OMB Control Number 2900-0160, now includes only three forms: VA Forms 10-5588, 10-5588A, and 10-10SH.

a. VA Form 10-5588: State Home Report and Statement of Federal Aid Claimed—38 CFR 51, 52 and Title 38, U.S.C., Sections 1741, 1742, 1743 and 1745—is used to assess and provide per diem to State homes. This collection is used by the State home employees and VA Staff.

b. VA Form 10-5588A: Claim for Increased Per Diem Payment for Veterans Awarded Retroactive Service Connection—38 CFR 51, 52 and Title 38, U.S.C., Sections 1741, 1742, 1743 and 1745—is used to assess and provide per diem to State homes retroactively. This collection is used by the State home employees and VA Staff.

c. VA Form 10-10SH: State Home Program Application for Veterans Care Medical Certification—38 CFR 51, 52 and Title 38, U.S.C., Sections 1741, 1742, 1743 and 1745—provides for the collection of information to apply for the benefits of this program.

VA Form 10-5588

Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Estimated Annual Burden: 834 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 30 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Monthly.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 139.

VA Form 10-5588A

Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Estimated Annual Burden: 180 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 20 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Monthly.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 45.

VA Form 10-10SH

Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Estimated Annual Burden: 3,802 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 20 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Once annually.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,406.

By direction of the Secretary.

Danny S. Green,

Interim VA Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, Performance and Risk (OQPR), Department of Veterans Affairs.