[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55631-55632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27850]
[[Page 55631]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[Form # HCFA-R-0264-a,b,c,d,e]
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 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
collections 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. We are requesting an emergency
review because the collection of this information is needed prior to
the expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5
CFR, Part 1320. The Agency cannot reasonably comply with the normal
clearance procedures because of a statutory deadline imposed by section
1853(a)(3) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Without this
information, HCFA would not be able to properly implement the
requirements set forth in the statute.
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.
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 Collection Request: New collection;
Title of Information Collection: Collection of DMEPOS Supplier Data
in Support of the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Demonstration
using form (HCFA-R-0264) and Supporting Statute Section 4319 of the
Balanced Budget Act of 1997;
Form No.: HCFA-R-0264;
Use: Section 4319 of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) mandates HCFA to
implement demonstration projects under which competitive acquisition
areas are established for contract award purposes for the furnishing of
Part B items and services, except for physician's services. The first
of these demonstration projects implements competitive bidding of
categories of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and
supplies (DMEPOS). Under the law, suppliers can receive payments from
Medicare for items and services covered by the demonstration only if
their bids are competitive in terms of quality and price. Each
demonstration project may be conducted in up to three metropolitan
areas for a three year period. Authority for the demonstration expires
on December 31, 2002. The schedule for the demonstration anticipates
about a six month period required between mailing the bidding forms to
potential bidders and the start of payments for DMEPOS under the
demonstration. HCFA intends to operate the demonstration in two rounds,
the first of two years, and the second of one year. HCFA has announced
that it intends to operate its first demonstration in Polk County,
Florida, which is the Lakeland-Winter Haven Metropolitan Area.
There are five forms that are required for the demonstration. The
first, HCFA-R-0264A, will be filled out by suppliers to describe the
attributes of their organization, including quality of services and
financial data. Form HCFA-R-0264B will be filled out by suppliers for
each of the categories of DMEPOS for which they bid, and includes
information about their supply of that category of equipment or
supplies, and the prices that they bid for each item in that category.
Form HCFA-R-0264C will be used by site inspectors who gather
information at the facilities of bidders. Form HCFA-R-0264D is used to
gather data by telephone from referral sources of business for the
bidding suppliers, and form HCFA-R-0264E is used to gather data by
telephone from banks and other financial institutions for financial and
business references.
The competitive bidding demonstration for DMEPOS has the following
objectives:
Test the policies and implementation methods of
competitive bidding to determine whether or not it should be expanded
as a Medicare Program.
Reduce the price that Medicare pays for medical equipment
and supplies.
Limit beneficiary out-of-pocket expenditures for
copayments.
Improve beneficiary access to high quality medical
equipment and supplies.
Prevent business transactions with suppliers who engage in
fraudulent practices.
HCFA plans to mail the bidding package, including the referenced
forms A and B, to potential bidders at the first demonstration sites in
Polk County, Florida on November 16, 1998, and to request bidder
submissions by December 16, 1998. The remaining forms C, D and E will
be used for inspections and reference checking in the three months
following the bid submissions. These forms will be used by HCFA or its
agents to gather information regarding bidders who have made
financially attractive bids and are being evaluated for quality,
financial stability, and other attributes for consideration as
demonstration suppliers.
Frequency: Two times at each demonstration site;
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, and not-for-profit
institutions;
Number of Respondents: 2,040;
Total Annual Responses: 2,040;
Total Annual Hours: 25,260.
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, and HCFA form
number(s) referenced above, 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 designee
[[Page 55632]]
referenced below, within ten working days:
Health Care Financing Administration,
Office of Information Services,
Security and Standards Group,
Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards,
Attn: Dawn Willinghan,
Room: N2-14-26,
7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850
or
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: October 7, 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. 98-27850 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P