[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 7175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3585]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-228]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
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 summary 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.
We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information
collections referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following
requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency
review because the collection of this information is needed before the
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR,
Part 1320. This collection is necessary to ensure compliance with
section 1854 of the Balanced Budget Act. Under Part C of the Social
Security Act, a Medicare+Choice (M+C) organization is required to
submit an Adjusted Community Rate (ACR) proposal prior to 05/01/98,
which is used by M+C organizations to price its benefit packages.
Without emergency approval entities interested in participating in the
M+C program will not be afforded enough time to submit the required
application prior to the 05/01/98 deadline. As a result, public harm is
likely to result because eligible individuals may not receive the M+C
health insurance options stipulated by the BBA.
HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by
02/20/98, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the
individuals designated below by 02/19/98. During this 180-day period,
we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing the
initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment
period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB
review and an extension of this emergency approval.
Type of Information Request: New collection.
Title of Information Collection: Managed Care Adjusted Community
Rate (ACR) Proposal.
Form Number: HCFA-R-228 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).
Use: This collection effort will be used to price the benefit
package sold to Medicare beneficiaries who will be enrolled in M+C.
Organizations submitting the Managed Care Adjusted Community Rate
Proposal form would include all M+C organizations plus any organization
intending to contract with HCFA as a M+C organization. This would
include any eligible organizations with a managed care risk contract,
as defined in 42 CFR Sec. 417.401 of federal regulations, in effect on
January 1, 1998 with intentions of offering a M+C plan starting January
1, 1999. These current Medicare managed care risk contractors will be
required to submit this form no later than May 1, 1998 for the calendar
year 1999.
Frequency: Annually.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit, not-for-profit
institutions.
Number of Respondents: 350.
Total Annual Responses: 350.
Total Annual Hours Requested: 35,000.
To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, E-mail your
request, including your address, phone number, and HCFA form number(s)
referenced above, to P[email protected], or call the Reports Clearance
Office on (410) 786-1326.
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information
requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information
collection and recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed
to the designees referenced below, by 02/19/98:
Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services,
Information Technology Investment Management Group, Division of HCFA
Enterprise Standards, Room C2-26-17, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Fax Number: (410) 786-1415, Attn: John
Rudolph HCFA-R-228
and,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC
20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167 Attn: Allison
Herron Eydt, HCFA Desk Officer.
Dated: February 5, 1998.
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. 98-3585 Filed 2-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P