[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