[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53680-53681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26738]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirements for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c) (2)(A) of 
Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. To request or to obtain a copy of the data 
collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer on (301) 443-1129.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: National Practitioner Data Bank for Adverse 
Information on Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners: 
Regulations and Forms, OMB No. 0915-0126: Extension

    The National Practitioner Data Bank (Data Bank) was established 
through Title IV of Pub. L. 99-660, the Health Care Quality Improvement 
Act of 1986, as amended. Final Regulations governing the Data Bank are 
codified at 45 CFR Part 60. Responsibility for Data Bank implementation 
and operation resides in the Bureau of Health Professions, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (DHHS). The Data Bank began operation on September 1, 
1990.
    The intent of Title IV of Pub. L. 99-660 is to improve the quality 
of health care by encouraging hospitals, State licensing boards, 
professional societies, and other entities providing health care 
services, to identify and discipline those who engage in unprofessional 
behavior;

[[Page 53681]]

and to restrict the ability of incompetent physicians, dentists, and 
other health care practitioners to move from State to State without 
disclosure of the practitioners' previous damaging or incompetent 
performance.
    The Data Bank acts primarily as a flagging system; its principal 
purpose is to facilitate comprehensive review of practitioners' 
professional credentials and background. Information on medical 
malpractice payments, adverse licensure actions, adverse clinical 
privileging actions, and adverse professional society actions is 
collected from, and disseminated to eligible entities. It is intended 
that Data Bank information should be considered with other relevant 
information in evaluating a practitioner's credentials.
    This request is for an extension of reporting and querying forms 
previously approved in February 1996. The reporting forms and the 
request for information forms (query forms) may be accessed, completed, 
and submitted to the Data Bank electronically through the use of a 
program designated QPRAC 4 which is provided by the DHHS. The DHHS has 
developed a separate query form for practitioners making self-queries. 
This request also includes several administrative forms which have been 
developed since the last clearance.
    The following estimates of burden are based on actual Data Bank 
operational experience:

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                                            Number of      Responses per        Hours per         Total burden
     Type of Activity--45 CFR 60.0         respondents       respondent          response            hours
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Reporting:
    Reports Correcting Errors and
     Omissions--60.6(a)................           1,600           1.06 .            25                424
    Reports of Revision to Actions
     Previously Reported--60.6(b)......             390           1.04                .75             304
    Report of Medical Malpractice
     Payments--60.7(b).................             525          27.3285              .75          14,347
    Reports of Adverse Actions by State
     Medical and Dental Boards--60.8(b)             125          32.56                .75           3,053
    Reports of Adverse Action Regarding
     Clinical Privileges and
     Professional Society Memberships--
     60.9(a)...........................            3975           1.03                .75             753
Entity Hearings:
    Requests for Hearing by Entities--
     60.9(c)...........................           \1\ 1           1                  8.0                8
Requests for Information Disclosure
 (Query):
    Queries by Hospitals for
     Practitioner Applications--
     60.10(a)(1).......................           6,000          40               \4\ .083         19,920
    Queries by Hospitals--Two Year
     Cycle--60.10(a)(2)................           6,000         160                   .083         79,680
    Queries by Hospitals--Peer Review--
     60.11(a)(1).......................             \2\
    Queries by Practitioners (Self-
     Query)--60.11(a)(2)...............          60,000           1                   .50          30,000
    Queries by Licensure Boards--
     60.11(a)(3).......................             125         120                   .083          1,245
    Queries by Non-Hospital Health Care
     Entities--60.11(a)(4).............           3,250         690                   .083        186,128
    Queries by Plaintiff's Attorneys--
     60.11(a)(5).......................         (\3\) 1           1                   .30                .5
    Queries by Non-Hospital Health Care
     Entities--Peer Review--60.11(a)(6)           (\3\)
    Requests by Researchers for
     Aggregate Information--60.11(a)(7)             100           1                   .50              50
Disputes:
    Practitioner Places a Dispute in
     His/Her Data Bank Report--60.14(b)           1,200           1                   .5              600
    Practitioner Places a Statement in
     His/Her Data Bank Report--60.14(b)           1,350           1                  1.0            1,350
    Practitioner Requests Review of the
     Disputed Report by The Secretary
     DHHS--60.14(b)....................             135           1                  8.0            1,080
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                   ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS USED IN OPERATING THE NATIONAL PRACTITIONER DATA BANK
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Entity Registration Form...............             150           1                  1.0              150
Entity Registration Update Form........             100           1                   .25              25
Authorized Agent Designation Form......              25           1                   .25               6.25
Authorized Agent Designation Update....               5           1                   .083               .42
Account Discrepancy Report.............             200           1                   .25              50
Electronic Transfer of Funds
 Authorization.........................              25           1                   .25               6.25
Entity Reactivation....................              50           1                   .25              12.5
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      Total............................  ..............  .................  .................    339,193
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\1\ There have been no hearing requests from reporting entities since the opening of the Data Bank.
\2\ We are unable to distinguish between these and other types of queries made by hospitals and other health
  care entities.
\3\ There have been approximately 12 attorney requests since the opening of the Data Bank; of these, one has
  been granted.
\4\ 5 minutes.

    Send comments to Susan Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 14-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
Maryland 20857, (301) 443-1129; Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: September 30, 1998.
Jane Harrison,
Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 98-26738 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
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