[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36249-36250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17664]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-246]


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

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, HHS.
    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 
collection 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 1876 of the Social Security Act. Section 1876(I) of the Social 
Security Act (the Act) sets forth several criteria for HMO contracts. 
As relevant here, section 1876(I)(3) of the Act gives the Secretary, or 
her designee the authority to incorporate additional contractual terms 
and conditions that are consistent with section 1876. These statutorily 
mandated contract provisions have been implemented in the regulations 
at 42 CFR 417.470, et seq which reference 42 CFR 417.126(a) which 
states that each HMO must have an effective procedure to develop, 
compile, evaluate, and report to HCFA, to its enrollees, and to the 
general public, at the times and in the manner that HCFA requires, the 
following: the cost of its operations; the patterns of utilization of 
its services; the availability, accessibility and acceptability of its 
services; to the extent practical, developments in the health status of 
its enrollees; information demonstrating that the HMO has a fiscally 
sound operation and other matters that HCFA may require. Without 
emergency approval HCFA will be unable to monitor the quality of care 
received by beneficiaries in managed care measured through the Consumer 
Assessment of Health Plans Study (CAHPS) survey asking beneficiaries 
about their experiences with their plan. As a result, public harm is 
likely to result because HCFA will be unable to monitor the quality of 
care received by beneficiaries.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection 
within 6 working days of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by 5 working days of the publication of 
this notice. During this 180-day period, we

[[Page 36250]]

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: Revision of Currently Approved 
Collection.
    Title of Information Collection: CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of 
Health Plans Study) Survey.
    Form Number: HCFA-R-246 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).
    Use: We are revising the CAHPS to conform with the NCQA instrument. 
This collection effort (CAHPS) will be used to hold the Medicare 
managed care industry accountable for the quality of care they are 
delivering. This collection will better allow HCFA to obtain the 
information critical for the proper oversight of the program and to 
disseminate information that will help beneficiaries choose among 
plans, contribute to the improved quality of care through 
identification of quality improvement opportunities, and assist HCFA in 
carrying out its responsibilities.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit, Individuals or 
Households.
    Number of Respondents: 150,240.
    Total Annual Responses: 150,240.
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 49,579.
    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 within 4 working days of the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register:

Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards 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-246
    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: June 25, 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. 98-17664 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P