Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 215 / Thursday, November 6, 1997 / Notices 60069

up of claims would require extensive

reprogramming of the current payment

system reports and would probably

result in questionable data. Even if TSO

could modify its current reporting

system, it would only provide one of the

data components necessary for

establishing the RTC rates. The rates for

other third-party payers would remain

inaccessible under the TSO reporting

system. Other third-party information is

critical in establishing the most

favorable rate for the RTC. The RTC is

the only one that can provide other

third-party information.

The data collection form is simplistic

in design to minimize administrative

burden on the RTCs. The requested

information should already be

maintained by the facility for normal

operation. It is anticipated that it should

take one person 8 to 10 hours to prepare

the data, and an additional 2 to 4 hours

if TRICARE should have follow-up

inquiries regarding their data

submission. TSO or the TRICARE

contractor staff will be available to

answer any questions that the RTCs may

have regarding completion of the form.

The issue of confidentiality has been

considered. The data submitted by RTCs

will be kept in strict confidence and

will not be accessible to competitors.

The only information accessible to the

general public will be the TRICARE allinclusive rates calculated for each RTC.

These rates will appear in the TRICARE/

CHAMPUS Policy Manual and may be

released under the Freedom of

Information Act.

The information requested is financial

in nature and may be considered private

or confidential in a business sense.

Specific knowledge of a RTC’s financial

position may create an unfair advantage

for its competitors. However, the

information requested is necessary for

calculating the individual prospective

all-inclusive per diem rates. The RTCs

are only being asked to provide those

data (financial) elements used directly

in the reimbursement formula. They

have also been assured that facility

specific information will be kept

confidential. The instruction sheet and

cover letter will justify collection of the

information and give a detailed

explanation of the data element

requirements.

The number of one-time respondents

is 20. It is estimated that a maximum of

12 hours will be required to complete

the form since the requested

information should already be

maintained by the facility for normal

operation. Most of the administrative

burden will be associated with the

reformatting of existing financial

information. The burden of collecting

the data will be dependent on the type

of reporting system in use. Facilities

which maintain their financial records

on computers will be able to retrieve the

requested information faster than those

with manual systems. The use of

computerized data may cut the

reporting time in half (6 hours). Larger

RTCs are more likely to have

sophisticated reporting systems than

smaller facilities. However, this is

probably more the exception than the

rule with the advent of more reasonably

priced ADP systems for small

businesses. The total one-time reporting

burden is estimated to be 240 hours.

Dated: October 31, 1997.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 97–29309 Filed 11–5–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5000–04–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 98–04]

36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Assistance

Agency, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is

publishing the unclassified text of a

section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification.

This is published to fulfill the

requirements of section 155 of Public

Law 104–164 dated 21 July 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. J. Hurd, DSAA/COMPT/RM, (703)

604–6575.

The following is a copy of a letter to

the Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Transmittal 98–04,

with attached transmittal and policy

justification pages.

Dated: October 31, 1997.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

BILLING CODE 5000–04–M
60070 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 215 / Thursday, November 6, 1997 / Notices
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 215 / Thursday, November 6, 1997 / Notices 60071
60072 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 215 / Thursday, November 6, 1997 / Notices

[FR Doc. 97–29308 Filed 11–5–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5000–04–C