[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45829-45830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22861]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-0253]


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

[[Page 45830]]

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 call-
back survey of callers to the Medicare+Choice toll-free line. Through 
this survey, a sample of callers to the Medicare+Choice toll-free line 
will be called back to obtain information about whether they were 
satisfied with the interaction with the customer service 
representative, whether additional calls to other sources were 
necessary to get the information or resolve the problem that prompted 
the call, and whether they would call this number again in the future. 
We plan to tally the number and types of problems that are identified 
during these call backs to identify those problems that appear to be 
systematic. We will make any necessary changes in the operations of the 
phone centers as well as in the operator training to avoid such 
problems in the future.
    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: Call-Back Survey of Callers to the 
Medicare+Choice Toll-free Line.
    Form Number: HCFA-R-253 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).
    Use: The primary purpose of the call-back survey is to obtain 
information from callers about their satisfaction with the 
Medicare+Choice toll-free line. This information will be used to 
identify problems and make recommendations for ways of improving the 
service provided through the Medicare+Choice toll-free line.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 1,050.
    Total Annual Responses: 1,050.
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 175 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-253 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, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-22861 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P