[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 180 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49700-49701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24933]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 training of respondents to complete the collection of 
information will be required 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 and 42 CFR 422.306 of the 
regulations, a Medicare+Choice (M+C) organization is required to submit 
an Adjusted Community Rate (ACR) proposal prior to 05/01/99, which is 
used by M+C organizations to price its benefit packages (M+C plan). 
Without emergency approval entities interested in participating in the 
M+C program will not be afforded enough time to thoroughly understand 
the requirements and submit the required application prior to the 05/
01/99 deadline. A training session is being scheduled for November 1998 
to provide interested parties sufficient information to properly 
complete the ACR. These organizations may need to develop alternate 
methods to accumulate data to include in their ACR submissions. Without 
the training session, some organizations may submit ACRs that are not 
complete, timely, or accurate. HCFA has the authority to impose 
sanctions or may choose not to renew the organization's contract. 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 
within eleven working days, with a 180-day approval period. Written 
comments and recommendations will be accepted from the public if 
received by the individuals designated below within ten working days. 
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 M+C plan 
offered to Medicare beneficiaries by an M+C organization. Organizations 
submitting the Adjusted Community Rate form would include all M+C 
organizations plus any organization intending to contract with HCFA as 
a M+C organization. These current M+C organization contractors will be 
required to submit this form no later than May 1, 1999 for the calendar 
year 2000.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 400.
    Total Annual Responses: 400.
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 40,000.

[[Page 49701]]

    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 ten working days:

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-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: September 10, 1998.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer,
HCFA, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, 
Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-24933 Filed 9-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P