[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 89 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 26618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11367]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-10000]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, DHHS.
    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 
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 before the 
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR, 
Part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with the Balance 
Budget Act of 1997. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal 
clearance procedures because to do so would result in public harm. 
Public harm would result because there would be a delay in being able 
to furnish materials to Medicare beneficiaries that would assist them 
in making informed health care choices concerning fee-for-services 
benefits and managed care benefits. We need to have the results of a 
survey ready to be included in the Medicare and You Handbook by October 
1, 2000 and therefore must be able to begin the survey in July.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
June 30, 2000, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by June 23, 2000. 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 Consumer Assessment Survey of Health Plan Survey 
(CAHPS)--Fee for Service; HCFA Form Number: HCFA-10000 (OMB approval #: 
0938-NEW); Use: Under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, HCFA is required 
to provide general and plan comparative information to beneficiaries 
that will help them make more informed health plan choices. A CAHPS fee 
for service survey is needed to provide information comparable to those 
data collected from the CAHPS managed care survey; Frequency: Annually; 
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 
168,000; Total Annual Responses: 134,400; Total Annual Burden Hours: 
44,800.
    We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of 
these information collections. A notice will be published in the 
Federal Register when approval is obtained.
    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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c1c2d3c293e3b233e270c242f2a2d622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c595a4b5a0b7b2aab7ae85ada6a3a4eba2aab3">[email protected]</span></a>, 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, by June 23, 2000:

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: Julie Brown HCFA-10000
      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: April 25, 2000.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-11367 Filed 5-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P


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