Enrollment-Provision of Hospital and Outpatient Care to Veterans

VA's medical regulations captioned "Enrollment--Provision of Hospital and Outpatient Care to Veterans" implement a national enrollment system to manage the delivery of inpatient hospital care and outpatient medical care. Prior to October 1, 2002, veterans were eligible to be enrolled based on seven priority categories. In this final rule we add veterans awarded the Purple Heart to priority category 3 to implement new statutory requirements. We also delete the copayment provisions from priority category 4 to clarify statutory requirements. In addition, we divide priority category 7 into two new priority categories (7 and 8) to implement new statutory requirements, using the subpriorities for former category 7 for these new categories. Further, we state principles for placing veterans in enrollment categories to help ensure clarity and fairness in making priority category determinations. Finally, we change the VA officials who can make enrollment decisions and provide an additional address for sending a request for voluntary disenrollment.