[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 53747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26302]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Agency for Health Care Policy and Research; Agency Information 
Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

ACTION: Emergency clearance notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the Agency for Health Care Policy and 
Research's (AHCPR) intention to request the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to reinstate two expired information collection projects 
as one: Formerly the 1987 Health Insurance Plans Survey (HIPS) and the 
1994 National Employer Health Insurance Survey (NEHIS), now to be 
combined in the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance 
Component (MEPS-IC). In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D)), AHCPR invites the 
public to comment on this reinstatement.
    In further compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3507(j)(1)(A)(i)), AHCPR has submitted to the OMB a request for 
Emergency Review. This review is requested because collection of this 
information is needed prior to the expiration of the normal time limits 
under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR 1320.13, in order to allow for the 
information collection project: Pretest for the 1997 Medical 
Expenditure Survey--Insurance Component (MEPS-IC).
    The pretest was somewhat delayed as the Department worked to 
achieve efficiencies by consolidating the two previous surveys under 
DHHS's Survey Integration Plan. The pretest is now underway and it is 
urgent that it not be interrupted in order to assure the quality and 
integrity of the pretest data. The MEPS-IC is scheduled to begin in 
April 1997 when employers have information readily available on health 
plans, which are generally offered and processed on an annual basis. 
Delays in the pretest results will cause resulting delays in the 
overall MEPS-IC survey, which is the only national level effort to 
collect information on the supply of private health insurance available 
to American workers, including annual premium expenditures, benefits 
paid, and administrative costs for national health accounts, maintained 
by HCFA. This information, along with that from the larger MEPS-
Household Component, is important for evaluating current and proposed 
health policies by both the private and public sectors.

DATES: AHCPR is requesting that OMB provide a 2-day review and a 90-day 
approval. During this 90-day period AHCPR will publish a separate 
Federal Register notice to provide a 30-day public review and comment 
period on these requirements.

ADDRESSES: Written comments for the proposed information collection 
should be submitted within 2 working days of this notice directly to 
the OMB Desk Officer at the following address: Allison Eydt, Human 
Resources and Housing Branch, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, OMB; New Executive Office Building, Room 10235; Washington, 
D.C. 20503.
    All comments will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ruth A. Celtnieks, AHCPR Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 594-1406, 
ext. 1497.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AHCPR intends to conduct a survey of 
establishments in 1997 to collect information from employers concerning 
employer-sponsored health insurance. This survey will be an integration 
of two previous surveys, now components of MEPS-IC. The two surveys 
which collected similar information are:
    1. The 1987 Health Insurance Plans Survey sponsored by AHCPR's 
predecessor, the National Center for Health Services Research; and
    2. The 1994 National Employer Health Insurance Survey sponsored by 
AHCPR, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Health 
Care Financing Administration (HCFA). Due to the integration of these 
two previous survey operations into the MEPS-IC, AHCPR is updating the 
questionnaire and data collection methodology. A data collection 
pretest is being proposed using a sample of potential respondents. 
Based upon the results of this test, the AHCPR will develop and refine 
the final methodology for the 1997 MEPS-IC.
    Burden Estimates Follow:
    Number of Respondents--350.
    Number of Surveys per Respondent--1.
    Average Burden/Respondent--.75 Hours.
    Estimated Total Burden--263 Hours.
    Copies of these data collection plans and instruments can be 
obtained from the AHCPR Reports Clearance Officer (see above).

    Dated: October 7, 1996.
Clifton R. Gaus,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-26302 Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M