Copayment For Medication

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[Federal Register: January 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 7)]

[Notices]

[Page 1914]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr10ja08-85]

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Copayment for Medication

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving

notice that there is no change in the medication copayment rate for

calendar year 2008 and the rate will remain at $8.00. The total amount

of copayments in a calendar year for a veteran enrolled in one of the

Priority Groups 2 through 6 shall not exceed the cap of $960.00. These

rates are based on the Prescription Drug component of the Medical

Consumer Price Index as cited in title 38, Code of Federal Regulations,

part 17, Sec. 17.110.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Guagliardo, Director, Business

Policy (163), Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20420, (202) 254-0406. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is required by law to charge certain

veterans a copayment for each 30-day or less supply of medication

provided on an outpatient basis (other than medication administered

during treatment) for treatment of a non-service connected condition.

Public Law 106-117, the Veterans' Millennium Health Care and Benefits

Act, gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs authority to increase the

medication copayment amount and to establish a calendar year cap on the

amount of medication copayments charged to veterans enrolled in

Priority Groups 2 through 6. When veterans reach the calendar year cap,

they will continue to receive medications without additional copayments

for that calendar year.

Formula for Calculating the Medication Copayment Amount

Each calendar year beginning after December 31, 2002, the

Prescription Drug component of the Medical Consumer Price Index of the

previous September 30 is divided by the Index as of September 30, 2001.

The ratio is then multiplied by the original copayment amount of $7.00.

The copayment amount of the new calendar year is then rounded down to

the whole dollar amount.

Computation of Calendar Year 2008 Medication Copayment Amount

a. Prescription Drug Medical Consumer Price Index as of September

30, 2007 = 370.9.

b. Prescription Drug Medical Consumer Price Index as of September

30, 2001 = 304.8.

c. Index = 370.9 divided by 304.8 = 1.2168.

d. (INDEX) x $7= $8.52.

e. Copayment amount = $8.00.

Dated: January 3, 2008.

James B. Peake,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. E8-211 Filed 1-9-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320-01-P