[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 180 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49701-49702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24934]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier HCFA-R-257]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
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 (DHHS),
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 of the
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 the 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 (Pub. L. 105-33), new provisions have
been implemented to coordinate Medicare beneficiaries' choices through
the Medicare+Choice organizations. Specifically, the provisions require
the establishment of procedures through which Medicare+Choice elections
are made and changed, including the form and manner in which such
elections are made and changed, as required by section 4001 of the
Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997. This necessitated a need to create
an additional mechanism for beneficiaries make election to disenroll to
original Medicare. This also provided the opportunity to collect
information on beneficiary disenrollment behavior, as the BBA
provisions required the development of quality and performance
measures, specifically including collection of information regarding
disenrollment rates. Collection of disenrollment reason data will
promote active, informed selection by beneficiaries of options as well
as to conduct quality control studies. By allowing beneficiaries the
ability to request the disenrollment forms from the customer
teleservice representatives, HCFA will ultimately be providing the
beneficiary with more flexibility and options.
The purpose of this submission is to request approval of a
disenrollment form that beneficiaries will be able to obtain from the
Medicare+Choice toll-free number that is to be established (as required
by the BBA). Such a form allows the beneficiary to disenroll from a
Medicare+Choice organization to original (fee-for-service) Medicare and
allows HCFA to collect information for analysis of disenrollment rates
and reasons for disenrollment. The Medicare+Choice toll-free number
will be operational in November 1998 and a more expedient review is
needed in order for the form to be ready to provide to the
beneficiaries when the call center is operational.
HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection
within eleven working days, with a 180-day approval period. Written
comments and recommendations will be accepted from the public if
received by the individual designated below, within ten working days of
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
During this 180-day period, HCFA will pursue OMB clearance of this
collection as stipulated by 5 CFR 1320.
Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection.
Title of Information Collection: Medicare+Choice Disenrollment
Form.
Form Nos.: HCFA-R-257.
Use: The primary purpose of the new form is to receive and process
the beneficiary's request for disenrollment from a Medicare+Choice plan
and to return to original (fee-for-service) Medicare. The secondary
purpose of the new form is to obtain the reason for the disenrollment,
for analysis and reporting.
Frequency: As requested by beneficiary.
Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other for-
profit, Not-for-profit institutions, and Federal government.
Number of Respondents: 60,000 annually.
Total Annual Responses: 20,000 in first year, 60,000 thereafter.
Total Annual Hours: 3,960.
To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms
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, phone number, OMB number, and
HCFA document identifier, 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 record keeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed
to the designee referenced below, within ten working days of
[[Page 49702]]
publication of this collection in the Federal Register:
Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services,
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards,
Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Fax
Number: (410) 786-0262, Attn: Louis Blank HCFA-R-257
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: September 10, 1998.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information Services,
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-24934 Filed 9-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P