Federal Regulations Significant to Veterans [March 2006]

• General Provisions - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, March 31, 2006, to reorganize and rewrite in plain language general provisions applicable to its compensation and pension regulations, including definitions. These revisions are proposed as part of VA's rewrite and reorganization of all of its compensation and pension rules in a logical, claimant-focused, and user-friendly format. The intended effect of the proposed revisions is to assist claimants, beneficiaries and VA personnel in locating and understanding these general provisions.
  Comments Deadline: May 30, 2006.
  Address: Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9026; or e-mail through: http://www.Regulations.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AL87.''
  Contact: Bob White, Acting Chief, Regulations Rewrite Project (00REG2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-9515.

• Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 29, 2006, that the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission scheduled a town hall meeting for April 11, 2006, at the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, 1801 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The meeting is open to the public. The Commission is conducting eight fact-finding site visits throughout the United States. The Chicago area was selected based upon criteria that included the concentration of veterans, active-duty service members, and National Guard members, and reservist, and the co-location of Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and Department of Defense (DoD) facilities with particular interests in transition activities. The goal of this visit is to allow the commissioners the opportunity to tour local VA and DoD facilities, examine the processes in place which assist veterans in their efforts to obtain benefits, and to present veterans, survivors and the general public with an opportunity to learn about the work of the Commission and to offer comments in a face-to-face forum.
  Contact: Ray Wilburn, Executive Director, Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20004; e-mail: veterans@vetscommission.intranets.com.

• Notice of Intent To Grant an Exclusive License - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 27, 2006, that the Office of Research and Development, intends to grant to New England Compounding Pharmacy, Inc., 697 Waverly Street, Framingham, MA 01701 an exclusive license to practice U.S. Patent No. 6,569,615 issued, May 27, 2003, entitled, ``Compositions and Methods for Tissue Preservation''.
  Comments Deadline: April 11, 2006.
  Contact: Amy Centanni, Director of Technology Transfer, Department of Veterans Affairs; Office of Research and Development, Attn: 12TT; 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail: ami.centanni@mail.va.gov; fax: (202) 254-0473.

• Genomic Medicine Program Advisory Committee; Notice of Establishment - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on March 22, 2006, of the establishment of the Genomic Medicine Program Advisory Board. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs has determined that establishing the Committee is both necessary and in the public interest.
  The Committee will provide advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the scientific and ethical issues related to the establishment, development, and operation of a genomic medicine program, and will make recommendations to utilize both genetic and other medical information in concert in order to promote optimal medical care and research that contributes to the Department's knowledge of diseases and disability. Specifically, the Committee will assess the potential impact of a VA genomic medicine program on existing VA patient care services, make recommendations regarding policies and procedures for tissue collection, storage and analysis, make recommendations on the development of a research agenda and recommend approaches by which research results can be incorporated into routine medical care.
  Committee members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from among knowledgeable experts and veterans with special competence to evaluate the genomic medicine needs of the Department. The Committee shall report regularly to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on its major activities and recommendations.

• Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special Disabilities Programs; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on March 16, 2006, that the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special Disabilities Programs will meet on April 11 and 12, 2006, in Washington, DC. The Committee will receive briefings by the Chief Consultant, Rehabilitation Strategic Healthcare Group, and Director, Rehabilitation Research and Development; briefings from the Directors of Seamless Transition Office, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, and Chief Prosthetics and Clinical Logistics Officer; and briefings by the Chief Consultant, Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Service.
  Contact: Cynthia Wade, Designated Federal Officer, Veterans Health Administration, Patient Care Services, Rehabilitation Strategic Healthcare Group (117), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8485.

• Notice of Intent To Grant an Exclusive License - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 16, 2006, that the Office of Research and Development, intends to grant to APMed Solutions, Inc. 3282 Alpine Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 an exclusive license to practice U.S. Patent No. 6,840,242 issued January 11, 2005, entitled ``Tracheostomy Aspiration Suction Tube''.
  Comments Deadline: March 31, 2006.
  Contact: Amy Centanni, Director of Technology Transfer, Department of Veterans Affairs; Office of Research and Development, Attn: 12TT; 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail: ami.centanni@mail.va.gov; fax: (202) 254-0473.

• Veterans' Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on March 16, 2006, that the Veteran's Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards will meet on April 5 and 6, 2006 in Washington, DC. The agenda for both days will be analyses of medical and scientific papers concerning the health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation. On the basis of the discussions, the Committee may make recommendations to the Secretary concerning the relationship of certain diseases to exposure to ionizing radiation.
  Contact: Bernice Green, Compensation and Pension Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7210; fax: (202) 275-1728.

• Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on March 16, 2006, that the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans will meet on April 3 through 6, 2006, at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, the VA Regional Office in Los Angeles, California, and the VA Long Beach Healthcare System in Long Beach, California. The agenda will include discussions regarding healthcare challenges and successes, hiring practices for minority veterans, transition concerns for returning combat wounded Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Service members, benefit services and delivery of benefits to minority veterans, and burial benefits delivery for minority veterans. Also, the Committee will engage in discussions with the Executive Director of the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission and the Director of the VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
  Contact: Elizabeth Olmo, Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, Center for Minority Veterans (00M), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-6708.

• Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on March 16, 2006, that the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education will meet on April 6 and 7, 2006. On April 6, the Committee will hold a ``town hall'' forum with Marine Corps and Navy personnel, at Camp Pendleton, California. On April 7, the Committee will hold a town hall forum with veterans and educators to discuss use of education benefits, at Oceanside, California.
  Contact: Judith Timko, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (225B), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

• Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on March 10, 2006, that the Secretary intends to enter into an enhanced-use lease of approximately 6.7 acres at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The selected lessee would develop, finance, construct, manage, maintain and operate a commercial office building to house medical-related research and other permitted activities and an adjacent, smaller restaurant/retail building. The lessee would also be required to provide VA with monetary and in-kind consideration consisting of certain renovation and improvement work on the VAMC campus.
  Contact: Raymond N. Palmer, Office of Asset Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-8862.

• Medical: Informed Consent--Extension of Time Period and Modification of Witness Requirement for Signature Consent - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, March 9, 2006, to amend VA medical regulations on informed consent, by (1) extending the period of time during which a signed consent form remains valid from 30 to 60 days; and by (2) eliminating the requirement that a third party witness the patient or surrogate and practitioner signing the consent form; except in those circumstances where the patient or surrogate signs with an ``X'' due to a debilitating illness or disability, or because the patient is unable to read or write.
  Comments Deadline: May 8, 2006.
  Address: Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9026; or e-mail through: http://www.Regulations.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AM19.''
  Contact: Ruth Cecire, PhD, Policy Analyst, Ethics Policy Service, National Center for Ethics in Health Care (10E), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 501-2012.

• Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 9, 2006, that the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation will meet on March 29, 30, and 31, 2006, in Washington, DC. The Committee agenda will include updates on the Spinal Cord Injury Vocational Support Program, Disabled Transition Assistance Program, Seamless Transition, implementation of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Task Force recommendations, employment initiatives, and other rehabilitation program initiatives.
  Contact: Janet LeClerc, Designated Federal Officer, Veterans Benefits Administration (28), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail vrejlecl@vba.va.gov; telephone: (202) 273-6952

• Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on March 9, 2006, that the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee will meet on March 24, 2006, in Washington, DC. The Committee's agenda will include an ethics briefing; discussions about system updates, new uses of the license and certification benefit, and outreach activities; a presentation on the usage of the license and certification test reimbursement benefit; and statements from the public.
  Contact: Stacey St. Holder, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (225B), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

• Disciplinary Appeals Board Panel - Section 203 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-40), dated May 7, 1991, revised the disciplinary grievance and appeal procedures for employees appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(1). It also required the periodic designation of employees of the Department who are qualified to serve on Disciplinary Appeals Boards. These employees constitute the Disciplinary Appeals Board panel from which Board members in a case are appointed. This notice, published in the Federal Register on March 8, 2006, announces that the roster of employees on the panel is available for review and comment. Employees, employee organizations, and other interested parties shall be provided, without charge, a list of the names of employees on the panel upon request and may submit comments concerning the suitability for service on the panel of any employee whose name is on the list.
  Requests for the list of names of employees on the panel and written comments may be directed to: Secretary of Veterans Affairs (051E), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; fax (202) 273-9776.
  Contact: Latoya Smith, Employee Relations and Performance Management Service, Office of Human Resources Management and Labor Relations, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-9827.

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