[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 166 (Monday, August 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43775-43776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21650]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed 
project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Proposed Project

    Uncompensated Services Reporting and Recordkeeping--42 CFR 124, 
Subpart F (OMB No. 0915-0077)-- Extension and Revision--Titles VI and 
XVI of the PHS Act, commonly known as the Hill-Burton Act, provide for 
government grants and loans for construction or renovation of health 
care facilities. As a condition of receiving this construction 
assistance, facilities are required to provide a ``reasonable volume'' 
of services to persons unable to pay. Facilities are also required to 
provide assurances periodically that the required level of 
uncompensated care is being provided, and to follow certain 
notification and recordkeeping procedures. These requirements are 
referred to as the uncompensated services assurance.
    The regulations contain provision for reporting to the government 
the amount of free care provided, as well as provisions for following 
certain notification and recordkeeping procedures. All of these 
regulations are included in this clearance request. The Uncompensated 
Services Assurance Report (USAR) (HRSA form 710) is one of the methods 
of reporting the amount of free care provided. There are no changes to 
the USAR form. There will be a significant reduction in the burden from 
the previous request for OMB approval. Fewer facilities are obligated 
to report since many have met their obligation. A new Charitable 
Facilities Compliance Alternative has been added. Burden estimates are 
as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Responses                    Total   
                        Requirement                           Number of       per       Burden per      burden  
                                                             respondents   respondent    response       hours   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure Requirements (42 CFR):                                                                               
    Published Notices (124.504(a)).........................          788            1          1             788
    Individual Notices (124.504(c))........................          788            1         59          46,492
    Determinations of Eligibility (124.507)................          788          160          2         252,160
Reporting Requirements (42 CFR)--Uncompensated Services--                                                       
 HRSA Form 710 (USAR) (124.509(a)).........................          678            1         14           9,492
Complaint Information (124.511(a)):                                                                             
    Individuals............................................            4            1           .25            1
    Facilities.............................................            4            1           .50            2
Application for Compliance Alternative for Public                                                               
 Facilities (124.513(c))...................................            5            1          6              30
Annual Certification for Public Facilities (124.509(b))....          355            1           .5           178
Application for Compliance Alternative for Small Obligation                                                     
 Facilities (124.514(c))...................................            0            0          2               0
Annual Certification for Small Obligation Facilities                                                            
 (124.509(c))..............................................            2            1           .5             1
Application for Compliance Alternative for Charitable                                                           
 Facilities (124.516(c))...................................            2            1          6              12
Annual Certification for Charitable Facilities (124.516(c))           19            1           .5            10
      Subtotal--Reporting and Disclosure--309,166                                                               
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    Recordkeeping Burden is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Hours/                 
     Requirement (42 CFR)        Number of     facility/   Recordkeeping
                               recordkeepers      year         burden   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nonalternative Facilities                                               
 (124.510(a))................           788            75        59,100 
Small Obligation Facilities                                             
 (124.510(b))\1\.............             2             0             0 
Public Facilities                                                       
 (124.510(b))\1\.............           355             0             0 
      Subtotal--Recordkeeping                                           
       -59,100                                                          
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\1\ Requires facilites under the public facilities compliance           
  alternative and the small obligation compliance alternative to        
  maintain qualification documents. These are ordinarily retained by    
  facilities, so there is no burden.                                    


[[Page 43776]]


    Total burden for this project is estimated to be 368,266 hours.
    Send comments to Patricia Royston, HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 14-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. 
Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: August 20, 1996.
J. Henry Montes,
Associate Administrator for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 96-21650 Filed 8-23-96; 8:45 am]
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