[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56963-56964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28344]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-143]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration.
    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 summaries 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.
    1. HCFA-R-143 Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of 
currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: 
Analysis of Malpractice Premium Data; Form No.: HCFA-R-143; Use: The 
Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1989 section 1848(e)(P.L.101-239) 
requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop 
and update geographic adjustment factors for existing payment 
localities used in calculating the Medicare fee schedule. HCFA is also 
required by the law to compute the annual rate of increase in 
malpractice premiums for use in the Medicare Economic Index in setting 
the Medicare physician fee schedule update; Frequency: Annually; 
Affected Public: State, local or tribal govt., business or other for-
profit, not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 50; Total 
Annual Responses: 50; Total Annual Hours: 150.
    2. HCFA-644 Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement, 
without change, of previously approved collection for which approval 
has expired; Title of Information Collection: Intake and Assessment 
Survey Package for the Community Nursing Organization Demonstration; 
Form No.: HCFA-644; Use: The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 section 
4079 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to 
conduct a demonstration project, testing capitated payment for 
community nursing and ambulatory care services (primarily Medicare-
covered home health services, medical devices and durable medical 
equipment, and certain ambulatory care) provided to Medicare 
beneficiaries by community nurse organizations sites. This aspect of 
the demonstration is aimed at replacing the multiple payment 
mechanisms, such as reasonable cost, predetermined fee

[[Page 56964]]

schedules, and usual, customary, and prevailing costs, which exist 
currently; Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 11,300; Total Annual Responses: 
11,300; Total Annual Hours: 6385.
    3. HCFA-841-853 Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of 
currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Durable 
Medical Equipment Regional Carrier, Certificate of Medical Necessity; 
Form Nos.: HCFA-841-853 (formerly HCFA-R-182); Use: A Certificate of 
Medical Necessity is a standardized format used to communicate 
information provided by an attending physician and a supplier of 
medical equipment and supplies. The information is used by carriers to 
determine the medical necessity of an item or service covered by the 
Medicare program and being used for the treatment of the Medicare 
beneficiary's condition. The CMNs being submitted for OMB review are 
necessary in order for HCFA to determine the medical necessity of the 
item or service. The information needed to make this determination 
requires application of medical judgment that can only be provided by a 
physician or other clinician who is familiar with the condition of the 
beneficiary; Frequency: On Occasion; Affected Public: Suppliers and 
physicians, business or other for-profit, federal government; Number of 
Respondents: 140,000; Total Annual Responses: 6.8 million; Total Annual 
Hours Requested: 1.7 million.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement for the proposed 
paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's WEB SITE ADDRESS 
at http://www.hcfa.gov, or to obtain the supporting statement and any 
related forms, E-mail your request, including your address and phone 
number, to P[email protected], or call the Reports Clearance Office on 
(410) 786-1326. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collections 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 Analysis and Planning Staff, Attention: John Burke, Room C2-
26-17, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: October 29, 1996.
Edwin J. Glatzel,
Director, Management Analysis and Planning Staff, Office of Financial 
and Human Resources, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-28344 Filed 11-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P