[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 43403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21773]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-251]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, HHS.
In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Health Care Financing
Administration (HCFA), Department of Health and Human Services, is
publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public
comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this
burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,
including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility
of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of
the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology to minimize the information
collection burden.
We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information
collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following
requirements for emergency review. Due to an unanticipated event and
the fact that this collection of this information is needed before the
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR,
Part 1320, we are requesting an emergency review.
With the creation of the Medicare+Choice program, as required by
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33), Medicare beneficiaries'
health care options were expanded to include coordinated care plans
such as Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider
Organizations, Provider sponsored Organizations, as well as Private Fee
for Service Plans and Medical Savings Accounts. While the new options
bring more flexibility for health care decisions for people with
Medicare, they also necessitate the need for a carefully planned,
extensive education campaign to assure that Medicare Beneficiaries have
understanding of how Medicare offers more health plan choices and how
to use HCFA-developed information tools that will be available through
an annual publication and the World Wide Web.
The purpose of this submission is to request approval of the
Medicare & You bounce back survey form that will be used to collect
information from Internet users accessing the Medicare & You,
Medicare+Choice Handbook, on the Medicare.gov Web site. This web-based
survey will provide critical feedback from our agents, partners,
regional offices, congressional offices, and beneficiaries who use the
Medicare & You, Medicare+Choice Handbook. The information will be used
by HCFA to identify parts of Medicare & You that need to be revised to
further enhance HCFA's, Medicare+Choice information strategies and
related tools.
HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection
within 6 working days of publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the
individuals designated below by 5 working days of the publication of
this notice. During this 180-day period, we will publish a separate
Federal Register notice announcing the initiation of an extensive 60-
day agency review and public comment period on these requirements. We
will submit the requirements for OMB review and an extension of this
emergency approval.
Type of Information Request: New Collection.
Title of Information Collection: Medicare & You Bounce Back Survey
Form.
Form Number: HCFA-R-251 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).
Use: The primary purpose of the bounce back form is to provide HCFA
feedback from users of the Medicare+Choice handbook. The information
collected through the bounce back form will be used in conjunction with
other information collected in the States piloting Medicare & You to
make revisions for future publications of the Medicare & You,
Medicare+Choice handbook.
Frequency: On occasion.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Businesses or other
For-profit.
Number of Respondents: 9,855.
Total Annual Responses: 9,855.
Total Annual Hours Requested: 986.
To obtain copies of the supporting statement for the proposed
paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's WEB SITE ADDRESS
at http://www.hcfa.gov/regs/prdact95.htm, or E-mail your request,
including your address and phone number, to P[email protected], or call
the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information
requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information
collection and recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed
to the designees referenced below within 5 working days of the
publication of this notice in the Federal Register:
Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services,
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards,
Room N2-14-20, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax
Number: (410) 786-0262 Attn: John Rudolph HCFA-R-251 and, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, Fax
Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167 Attn: Allison Herron Eydt,
HCFA Desk Officer.
Dated: August 6, 1998.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, Office of Information Services,
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-21773 Filed 8-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P