Notice2025-09328
Agency Information Collection Activity: Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) Decision Appeal Form
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 23, 2025
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
Veterans Health Administration (VHA), 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 99 (Friday, May 23, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 99 (Friday, May 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22163-22164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09328]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900-0894]
Agency Information Collection Activity: Program of Comprehensive
Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) Decision Appeal Form
AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Veterans Health Administration (VHA), 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: Comments must be received on or before July 22, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted through <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Program-Specific information: Rebecca Mimnall, 202-695-9434,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c3a242d2f233c3e2d0c3a2d622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="daacb2bbb9b5aaa8bb9aacbbf4bdb5ac">[email protected]</span></a>.
VA PRA information: Dorothy Glasgow, 202-461-1084, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eeb8afbebcafae988fc0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d5839485879495a3b4fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>.
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.
Title: Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
[[Page 22164]]
(PCAFC) Decision Appeal Form (VA Form 10-306).
OMB Control Number: 2900-0894. <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRASearch">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRASearch</a>. (Once at this link, you can enter the OMB Control Number to
find the historical versions of this Information Collection.)
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act
of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-163) enacted 38 U.S.C. 1720G, which directed the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a Program of
Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and a Program of
General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS). VA's regulations
implementing PCAFC and PGCSS are in 38 CFR part 71. Both programs are
managed by VA's Caregiver Support Program (CSP) Office. On June 6,
2018, the President signed into law the John S. McCain III, Daniel K.
Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and
Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 or the VA MISSION
Act 2018 (Pub. L. 115-182). The VA MISSION Act of 2018 expanded the
PCAFC to Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans of all eras in a phased
approach, established new benefits for Primary Family Caregivers of
eligible Veterans, and made other changes affecting program eligibility
and VA's evaluation of PCAFC applications.
Since program inception, Veterans and caregivers who disagree with
a PCAFC decision were afforded the right to appeal through the Veterans
Health Administration (VHA) Clinical Appeals Process. A 2021 Court
ruling in the case of Jeremy Beaudette & Maya Beaudette v. Denis
McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs changed the appeal and review
options available to individuals who have received a PCAFC decision and
disagree with that decision. In that case, the U.S. Court of Appeals
for Veterans Claims ruled in favor of petitioners seeking review by the
Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA or Board) of decisions under the PCAFC.
As a result of the Court's ruling, BVA review is now available to
individuals who have received a decision under the PCAFC since the
program began in May 2011. Consequently, VA expanded options available
to Veterans and caregivers who seek review of or to appeal a PCAFC
decision.
The options include a separate appeals process (legacy) that must
be used to appeal to the Board regarding PCAFC decisions issued before
February 19, 2019. The legacy process is implemented through use of VA
Form 10-306, which allows Veterans and caregivers to request
information about past PCAFC decisions to determine whether they wish
to pursue an appeal to the Board or request review. VA projects the
submission of a lower number of 10-306 forms going forward because the
annual number of requests following the court decision has been
decreasing over time. CSP is discontinuing VA Form 10-307, which
previously was included in this collection, as the form is no longer
necessary and will become obsolete. There is a commensurate decrease in
the burden hours for this collection due to the discontinuance and
removal of VA Form 10-307 and the anticipated decrease in the number of
10-306 forms that will be received annually by VA.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
Estimated Annual Burden: 12,500 hours.
Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 15 minutes.
Frequency of Response: Once annually.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
Lanea Haynes,
Acting, VA PRA Clearance Officer, (Alt.) Office of Enterprise and
Integration/Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2025-09328 Filed 5-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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