[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 3304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1329]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-180]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement, with change, 
of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Title of Information Collection: Field Testing of the Uniform Needs 
Assessment Instrument (UNAI): Small-Scale Trial--Phase 2.
    Form No.: HCFA-R-180 (OMB# 0938-0680).
    Use: In testing, the Uniform Needs Assessment Instrument (UNAI) 
will be used to assess the needs of all patients being discharged from 
Medicare-certified hospitals who are identified, through use of a 
screener, as needing extensive hospital discharge planning and post-
care. Dual assessments will be performed to assess inter-rater 
reliability. The UNAI is intended to help ensure appropriate post acute 
care and continuity of care between acute, post-acute and long-term 
care by transmitting key information to patients, families, and post 
acute care providers on the status and care needs of patients at the 
time of acute care discharge. The debriefing of discharge planners will 
examine the feasibility, burden, and utility of UNAI items and their 
view of the likely impact on the quality of discharge planning and 
continuity of care. The goal is to help HCFA determine whether such a 
system would improve quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Individuals or 
Households, and Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 500.
    Total Annual Responses: 720.
    Total Annual Hours: 847.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
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, phone number, OMB number, and 
HCFA document identifier, to P[email protected], or call the Reports 
Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed 
within 60 days of this notice directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance 
Officer designated at the following address: HCFA, Office of 
Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA 
Enterprise Standards, Attention: Dawn Willinghan, Room N2-14-26, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: January 11, 1999.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-1329 Filed 1-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P