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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dear Stakeholder:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">On July 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published its final rule to improve and expand the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), with the final regulation
going into effect on October 1. Attached for your information is the VA news release on this subject, which provides greater detail on the final rule.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We are reaching out to you because, under the final rule, PCAFC legacy applicants and legacy participants will be reassessed under the new eligibility criteria within 12 months of the effective date of the
final rule (i.e., by October 1, 2021). Legacy participants and legacy applicants who meet the new eligibility criteria may receive an increase or a decrease in the stipend amount. Legacy participants and legacy applicants who do not meet the new PCAFC eligibility
criteria will eventually be discharged from PCAFC and will no longer receive a stipend.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Attached for your information are VA’s Frequently Asked Questions relating to legacy applicants and legacy participants, as well as eligibility criteria, under the final rule.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Because some of your Veteran constituents may have their stipends decreased or may be discharged from PCAFC by their reassessment under the final rule, we want to make sure your office is well informed to
be able to respond to any potential inquiries or complaints. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">It is also important to inform Veterans who are adversely affected by the reassessment that they have the right to appeal VA’s decision. Although the details of the appeals process are still in development,
Veterans who would like to appeal a reassessment decision should be encouraged to first contact the Patient Advocate Office at their facility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Thank you, and please let me know if you have any questions or need further information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jerrold N. Flyer, MD, MA, FACS<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Associate Chief of Staff/Non-Institutional Care<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Boise VAMC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Office phone: 208-422-1533<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cell phone: 208-854-9840<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email: <a href="mailto:jerrold.flyer@va.gov">jerrold.flyer@va.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Handwriting"">Kevin R. Wallior, CPM<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Executive Assistant<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Central Support Office<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://veterans.idaho.gov/">Idaho Division of Veterans Services</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>"Caring for America's Heroes"<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ph: 208-780-1308<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax: 208-780-1301<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="212" height="67" style="width:2.2083in;height:.6979in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.png@01D68C1D.4DE4F880"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://resources.digital-cloud-west.medallia.com/direct/form.html?region=digital-cloud-west&websiteId=1986&formId=229"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="217" height="81" style="width:2.2604in;height:.8437in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.png@01D68C1D.3CA031C0" alt="A picture of Five Stars, text: "Take a Quick Survey & Tell Us How We're Doing""></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message and any included attachments are from the Idaho Division of Veterans Services and are intended only for the addressee. The information
contained in this message is confidential and may constitute protected health information or government non-public information under international, federal, or state law. Unauthorized forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, or use of such information
is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the addressee, please promptly notify the sender of delivery error by email and delete this message.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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