# Removal of Penalty for Breaking Appointments
> **US Department of Veterans Affairs** · Final rule. · Published 2014-01-08 · Effective 2014-02-07 · 79 FR 1332
## Document
- **Document number:** 2014-00098
- **Category:** va-other
- **Agency:** US Department of Veterans Affairs
- **Federal Register citation:** 79 FR 1332
- **CFR reference:** 38 CFR 17
- **Publication date:** 2014-01-08
- **Effective date:** 2014-02-07
## Abstract

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its regulations to remove an outdated regulation that stated that a veteran who misses two medical appointments without providing 24 hours' notice and a reasonable excuse is deemed to have refused VA medical care. VA removes this penalty because we believe it is incompatible with regulatory changes implemented after the regulation was promulgated, is not in line with current practice, and is inconsistent with VA's patient- centered approach to medical care.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/01/08/2014-00098/removal-of-penalty-for-breaking-appointments)
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