[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 247 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 67566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32687]



[[Page 67566]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-200]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

    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 (DHHS), 
has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the 
following request for Emergency review. We are requesting an emergency 
review because the collection of this information is needed prior to 
the expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 
C.F.R., Part 1320. The collection of HEDIS 3.0 performance measures, 
including the Health of Seniors and Consumer Assessment of Health Plans 
Study surveys is necessary for HCFA to obtain the information necessary 
for the proper oversight and administration of the Medicare Managed 
Care Program. The Agency cannot reasonably comply with the normal 
clearance procedures because public harm is likely to result due to the 
delay in reporting of health care quality measures. If emergency 
clearance is not provided HCFA will be forced to postpone the 
collection of this data for eighteen months due to the timing of 
contract cycles.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
12/31/96, with a 180-day approval period. During this 180-day period 
HCFA will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing the 
initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment 
period on these requirements. Then HCFA will submit the requirements 
for OMB review and an extension of this emergency approval.
    Type of Information Request: New collection; Title of Information 
Collection: HEDIS 3.0 (Health Plan Data and Information Set), including 
the Health of Seniors and Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study 
(CAHPS) surveys and supporting regulations 42 CFR 417.470, and 42 CFR 
417.126; Form Number: HCFA-R-200; Use: HEDIS will be used for 3 
purposes: (1) to provide summary comparative data to the Medicare 
beneficiary to assist them in choosing among health plans; (2) to 
provide information to health plans for internal quality improvement 
activity; and (3) to provide HCFA, as purchaser, information useful for 
monitoring quality of and access to care provided by the plans; 
Frequency: annually; Affected Public: Individuals or Households, non-
profit and for profit HMOs which contract with HCFA to provide managed 
health care to Medicare beneficiaries; Number of Respondents: 438,674; 
Total Annual Responses: 438,674 Total Annual Hours Requested: 671,000.
    To request copies of the proposed paperwork collections referenced 
above, call the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1325. Written 
comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections 
should be sent by 12/31/96 directly to the OMB Desk Officer designated 
at the following address: OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch; 
Attention: Allison Eydt, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 
Washington, D.C. 20503.

    Dated: December 17, 1996.
Edwin J. Glatzel,
Director, Management Analysis and Planning Staff, Office of Financial 
and Human Resources, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-32687 Filed 12-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P