[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41063-41064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20089]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Form #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

[[Page 41064]]

5 CFR 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 due to the timing of contracts and their 
respective cycles.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
08/15/97, 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: Revision of a currently approved 
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 
(OMB #0938-0701); Use: HEDIS and CAHPS 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: 293,834; Total Annual 
Responses: 293,834, Total Annual Hours Requested: 181,520. To request 
copies of the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, call the 
Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1324. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collections should be sent 
by 08/11/97 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, DC 
20503.

    Dated: July 23, 1997.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services, 
Information Technology Investment Management Group, Division of HCFA 
Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 97-20089 Filed 7-30-97; 8:45 am]
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