[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 43403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21773]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-251]


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. Due to an unanticipated event and 
the fact that this collection of this information is needed before the 
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR, 
Part 1320, we are requesting an emergency review.
    With the creation of the Medicare+Choice program, as required by 
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33), Medicare beneficiaries' 
health care options were expanded to include coordinated care plans 
such as Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider 
Organizations, Provider sponsored Organizations, as well as Private Fee 
for Service Plans and Medical Savings Accounts. While the new options 
bring more flexibility for health care decisions for people with 
Medicare, they also necessitate the need for a carefully planned, 
extensive education campaign to assure that Medicare Beneficiaries have 
understanding of how Medicare offers more health plan choices and how 
to use HCFA-developed information tools that will be available through 
an annual publication and the World Wide Web.
    The purpose of this submission is to request approval of the 
Medicare & You bounce back survey form that will be used to collect 
information from Internet users accessing the Medicare & You, 
Medicare+Choice Handbook, on the Medicare.gov Web site. This web-based 
survey will provide critical feedback from our agents, partners, 
regional offices, congressional offices, and beneficiaries who use the 
Medicare & You, Medicare+Choice Handbook. The information will be used 
by HCFA to identify parts of Medicare & You that need to be revised to 
further enhance HCFA's, Medicare+Choice information strategies and 
related tools.
    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 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: Medicare & You Bounce Back Survey 
Form.
    Form Number: HCFA-R-251 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).
    Use: The primary purpose of the bounce back form is to provide HCFA 
feedback from users of the Medicare+Choice handbook. The information 
collected through the bounce back form will be used in conjunction with 
other information collected in the States piloting Medicare & You to 
make revisions for future publications of the Medicare & You, 
Medicare+Choice handbook.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Businesses or other 
For-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 9,855.
    Total Annual Responses: 9,855.
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 986.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement for the proposed 
paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's WEB SITE ADDRESS 
at http://www.hcfa.gov/regs/prdact95.htm, or E-mail your request, 
including your address and phone number, 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 5 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 N2-14-20, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax 
Number: (410) 786-0262 Attn: John Rudolph HCFA-R-251 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: August 6, 1998.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-21773 Filed 8-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P