[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45828-45829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22860]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-254]


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

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration.


[[Page 45829]]


    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 (Pub. 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 the new health plan choices offered by Medicare and 
how to use HCFA-developed information tools that will be available 
through an annual publication, a toll-free number and the World Wide 
Web.
    The purpose of this submission is to request approval of a baseline 
and follow-up survey of beneficiaries in six communities where we are 
conducting case studies to examine how all of our activities related to 
the education campaign are working. The baseline survey will be 
conducted in September and the follow-up survey will be done this 
winter after all of the material related to the education campaign for 
this year has been mailed to beneficiaries. Examples of the types of 
questions that will be asked of beneficiaries include their 
satisfaction with the availability and usefulness of Medicare 
information when they need it, where they obtain information for 
particular Medicare-related decisions, their use of the Handbook and 
other information sources, their awareness of some of the major 
messages HCFA is trying to convey in the campaign and the demographics 
of the respondents.
    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: National Medicare Education 
Program Community Survey of Medicare Beneficiaries.
    Form Number: HCFA-R-254 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).
    Use: The primary purpose of the baseline and follow-up survey is to 
collect information on beneficiary satisfaction with the availability 
and usefulness of Medicare information when they need it, where 
beneficiaries obtain information for particular Medicare-related 
decisions, beneficiary use of the Handbook and other information 
sources, and their awareness of the major messages HCFA is trying to 
convey in the campaign. This information will be used in conjunction 
with other information collected in these six communities through focus 
groups and interviews to identify problems and make recommendations for 
ways of improving HCFA's education campaign in future years.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 4,800.
    Total Annual Responses: 4,800.
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 1,200 hours.
    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 record keeping 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 N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax 
Number: (410) 786-0262 Attn: John Rudolph HCFA-R-254 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 20, 1998.
John Parmigiani,
Acting HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information 
Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise 
Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-22860 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P