Rescission of Outdated Veterans Choice Program Regulations

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Veterans Affairs 38 CFR Part 17 RIN 2900-AS32 AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is rescinding obsolete regulations that were previously implemented for the Veterans Choice Program, which has been replaced by the Veterans Community Care Program as of June 6, 2019. DATES: This rule is effective on August 27, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Duran, Veterans Health Administration, (303) 370-1637. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Historically, section 1703 of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.) was the primary statutory authority that authorized VA to provide care in the community. In 2014, the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113-146 ; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note ) (the Choice Act) established an additional authority that became VA's primary mechanism to provide such care. The care provided under the Choice Act was referred to as the Veterans Choice Program. VA implemented this authority in regulation at 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 17.1500 through 17.1540. On June 6, 2018, the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act was signed into law. Section 101 of the MISSION Act amended 38 U.S.C. 1703 and created a new Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) which, among other things, replaced the Veterans Choice Program. On June 6, 2019…