Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 126 / Thursday, June 29, 2000 / Notices 40111

Submit written comments concerning

the information collection requirements

to the Dockets Management Branch by

August 28, 2000. A copy of the

document and received comments are

available for public examination in the

Dockets Management Branch between 9

a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday.

Dated: June 16, 2000.

Margaret M. Dotzel,

Associate Commissioner for Policy.

[FR Doc. 00–16395 Filed 6–26–00; 10:07 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–01–F

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration,

HHS.

[Document Identifier: HCFA–10012]

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

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. This collection of information will

be used to test the effectiveness of three

possible Medicare smoking cessation

benefits and to make inferences that are

generalizable to the Medicare program.

Using a comparison trial with restricted

randomization of study locales, this

study will compare three variations in a

potential Medicare smoking cessation

benefit on smoking cessation and

abstinence rates. Smoking cessation for

seniors is currently receiving attention

from Congress and the White House.

Senator Graham (D–FL) has proposed a

smoking cessation Medicare benefit,

while the White House provides for a

smoking cessation demonstration in the

President’s Plan to Modernize and

Strengthen Medicare for the 21st

Century. In response to this White

House initiative, HCFA is launching this

demonstration to test smoking cessation

as a possible covered benefit under the

Medicare program. If this information is

not collected, public harm is likely to

occur. Considerable evidence indicates

that much greater improvement in

health status could be accomplished if

currently existing, effective and

commonly available preventative

practices and services were

implemented more widely; therefore,

this demonstration could help improve

the health of the Medicare population.

HCFA is requesting OMB review and

approval of this collection by July 5,

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 July 3, 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 Collection

Request: New Collection;

Title of Information Collection:

Healthy Aging Smoking Cessation

Demonstration;

Form No.: HCFA–10012 (OMB no.

0938–NEW);

Use: The goals of the Healthy Aging

Project are to test the effectiveness of

three possible Medicare smoking

cessation benefits and to make

inferences that are generalizable to the

Medicare program. Using a comparison

trial with restricted randomization of

study locales, this study will compare

three variations in a potential Medicare

smoking cessation benefit on smoking

cessation and abstinence rates.;

Frequency: Semi-annually;

Affected Public: Individuals or

Households;

Number of Respondents: 43,500;

Total Annual Responses: 130,500;

Total Annual Hours: 58,000.

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, to Paperwork@hcfa.gov, 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 July 3, 2000:

Health Care Financing Administration,

Office of Information Services, Security

and Standards Group, Division of HCFA

Enterprise Standards Attention: Dawn

Willinghan, Room N2–14–26, 7500

Security Boulevard, Baltimore,

Maryland 21244–1850; 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: June 1, 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. 00–16455 Filed 6–28–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120–03–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA–901–1]

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

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