[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 139 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37486-37487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18241]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection 
Activity; 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, (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C.) the Health 
Care Financing Administration (HCFA), Department of Health and Human 
Services, is publishing the following summary of proposed information 
dissemination activities for public comment. Interested persons are 
invited to send comments regarding the burden or any other aspect of 
this information dissemination activity, including any of the following 
subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed activity for 
the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being 
disseminated; and (3) the use of other automated techniques or other 
forms of information dissemination to minimize the burden of the 
information dissemination activity.
    The Health Care Financing Administration is soliciting comments 
from the public on dissemination of information via an agency home page 
on the Internet. This service is a result of an ongoing process of 
creating a more customer-oriented, efficient government by improving 
public access to agency information electronically. The objective is to 
make releasable information available through the Internet when there 
is an important or substantial interest.
    Examples of the information available include: (1) Program 
information overview; (2) HCFA strategic plan and 5-year Information 
Resource Management plan; (3) Laws and regulations; (4) Press 
information, including news releases, Administrator speeches and 
testimony; (5) Office of

[[Page 37487]]

Research initiatives; (6) Public Use Files which include data that 
supports the institutional payment rates; (7) Beneficiary publications, 
including the Medicare Handbook; and (8) Electronic interactive 
communication of inquiries. The availability of the above on the 
Internet does not eliminate the availability of this information from 
the agency in hardcopy, tape, or other currently available formats.
    The Health Care Financing Administration will continue to apply the 
rules of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552) and the 
Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 522a) when disclosing information via the home 
page. All graphic and table information displays will be converted to 
text format to ensure the content is accessible and readable for users 
with disabilities, as well as to accommodate various browser software 
packages and low-bandwidth access.
    The Internet is a powerful tool for information dissemination and 
interactive communication which HCFA aims to use to improve program 
management and to provide improved services for program clients and 
customers.
    On-line information available on HCFA's home page will be updated 
so documents represent a current resource rather than a historical 
artifact. When a publication is changed, its title page or the home 
page will include a modification date.
    The intent is to continue to increase the presence of the agency 
data available on the Internet. Some of the areas for future 
consideration are: (1) Reporting of fraud and abuse; (2) Quality of 
care issues; (3) Request for Proposals; (4) Published statistics and 
evaluation reports; (5) Solicitations; (6) Increase the availability of 
the Public Use Files; (7) Additional Medicare and Medicaid program 
information; and (8) Managed Care information.
    HCFA's home page may be accessed at http://www.hcfa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Sneen, Chief, Information 
Processing Branch, 410-786-0163 or send an e-mail to MSneen @ 
hcfa.gov., or John Burke, HCFA Paperwork Clearance Officer, 410-786-
1325.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
dissemination activity must be mailed within 60 days of this notice 
directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance Officer designated at the 
following address: HCFA, Office of Financial and Human Resources, 
Management Planning and Analysis Staff, Attention: John Burke, Room C2-
26-17, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: July 11, 1996.
Kathleen B. Larson,
Director, Management Planning and Analysis Staff, Office of Financial 
and Human Resources, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-18241 Filed 7-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P