2026-09144: Updates to Waiver of Charges for Copayments
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is withdrawing a document published in the Federal Register on December 17, 2024, that requested public comment on VA's proposal to revise its medical regulations to allow VA to initiate a waiver request for debt accumulated from health care copayments on behalf of veterans in certain circumstances and to remove the requirement that veterans submit VA Form 5655 when seeking a waiver of copayment debt. VA is withdrawing the proposed rule because VA has determined the proposed regulation is no longer necessary.
The agency’s own summary, as published.
The rule, in full
401 words as published, May 08, 2026. View the original →
Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 89 (Friday, May 8, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 2026)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 25256-25257] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-09144] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. VA-2024-VHA-0031] RIN 2900-AS25 Updates to Waiver of Charges for Copayments
Agency
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Action
Proposed rule; withdrawal. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is withdrawing a document published in the Federal Register on December 17, 2024, that requested public comment on VA's proposal to revise its medical regulations to allow VA to initiate a waiver request for debt accumulated from health care copayments on behalf of veterans in certain circumstances and to remove the requirement that veterans submit VA Form 5655 when seeking a waiver of copayment debt. VA is withdrawing the proposed rule because VA has determined the proposed regulation is no longer necessary.
Dates
The proposed rule published at 89 FR 102031 on December 17, 2024, is withdrawn as of May 8, 2026.
Addresses
The docket for this withdrawn proposed rule is available at www.regulations.gov/docket/VA-2024-VHA-0031.
For Further Information Contact
Kevin Johnson, Director, Revenue Operations, Office of Finance, Veterans Health Administration, (562) 480-2890.
Supplementary Information
In a document published in the Federal Register on December 17, 2024, VA proposed to revise its medical regulations to allow VA to initiate a waiver request for debt accumulated from health care copayments on behalf of veterans in certain circumstances and to remove the requirement that veterans submit VA Form 5655 when seeking a waiver of copayment debt. On November 20, 2025, VA announced it would relieve veterans of more than $272 million in potential medical bills that accrued when certain copayment claims processing and collections stopped in early 2023, including the copayments giving rise to this rulemaking.\1\ Therefore, VA is withdrawing the proposed rule because it is no longer necessary. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-provides-veterans-relief-from-biden-era-backlogged-medical-bills/ (last accessed December 3, 2025). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Signing Authority Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this [[Page 25257]] document on April 20, 2026, and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gabriela DeCuir, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs. [FR Doc. 2026-09144 Filed 5-7-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
What this changes
Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.
Rulemaking docket
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Proposed Rule December 17, 2024AS25-Proposed Rule-Waiver of Charges for Copayments
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Supporting & Related Material December 18, 2024AS25(P) RIA to publish (12.17.24) Updates to Waiver of Charges for Copayments
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Proposed Rule May 08, 2026Waiver of Charges for Copayments; Withdrawal (AS25)
Public comments
What people are saying
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Milena Libman 2025-02-19
“As a former front desk receptionist for Treasure Coast Urgent Care in South Florida, on a day to day basis I dealt with calling the VA line to receive benefit information for our patients. So, I fully support these changes as it would make it easier for veterans to have their medical copayment debts reviewed and potentially waived. Additionally, it would reduce the paperwork they need to complete is THE BIGGEST game changer as my patients were mainly elders and when it came to knowing their OWN VA information they were clueless, so imagine filing claims for copayments. I believe this would ...”
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Thalia Sanderson 2025-02-16
“I am for this rule. Veterans have done so much for this country and deserved to be treated as such. Many of them have sacrificed their lives, time away from their families and their mental and physical health for the good of this country. In my opinion the least we can do as a country is help the veterans who really need it. The cost of healthcare in this country is ridiculous and overpriced on top of that. We spend so much money on wars and sending money to other countries but can’t give help to the veterans who really need it. It is truly a shame. Healthcare should be affordable to all bu...”
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City Bar Justice Center 2025-02-16
“The City Bar Justice Center, through its counsel and pro bono partner Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, submits the attached Comment in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Proposed Rule to amend its regulations regarding waivers of charges for copayment debt.”
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KEVIN NEWTON 2025-01-16
“IN FEB 2024 I RECIEVED A STAEMENT FROM U.S.DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IT HAS A STATEMENT DATE, AN ACCOUNT NUMBER, A PHONE NUMER, A WEBSITE, EVERYTHING YOU WOULD EXPECT A STAEMENT TO HAVE. THEN IN MARCH 2024 I RECIEVD A LETTER REGARDING OFFSETTING MY VA PAYMENT IN MAY FOR PERSCRIPTION COPAY. I CONTACTED THE VA BENEFITS DEPATMENT TO INFORM THEM THAT I HAVE NO CO PAYS AND THAT I HAD RECIEVED THIS LETTER ABOUT OFFSETTING MY MAY VA COMPENSATION I WAS ADVISED NOT TO WORRY. IN MAY 2024 MY COMPENSATION WAS OFFSET FOR COPAY FIRST I WAS ON HEALTH COVERAGE THROUGH THE MARKET PLACE (OBAMACARE) UNTI...”
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Read all comments on Regulations.gov →
Comment volume from Regulations.gov; the comment-submission API was retired in 2025, so comments are filed on Regulations.gov directly.
Documents
- Full text (Federal Register) · May 08, 2026
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