[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5666-5667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2649]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-1500]


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

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.
    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 the collection of this information is needed prior to 
the expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 
C.F.R., Part 1320. The HCFA-1500 is used to determine proper payment 
for certain Medicare services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries. 
Without this information, HCFA would not be able to obtain the 
information necessary to reimburse providers. The Agency cannot 
reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures because public 
harm is likely to result due to the possibility of providers not 
rendering services to Medicare beneficiaries due to the possibility of 
non-payment.
    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 Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection;
    Title of Information Collection: Medicare/Medicaid Health Insurance 
Common Claim Form and Instructions, and Supporting Regulations in 42 
CFR 414.40, 424.32 and 424.44;
    Form No.: HCFA-1500 (OMB# 0938-0008);
    Use: This form and instructions are standardized for use in the 
Medicare/Medicaid programs to apply for reimbursement for covered 
services. HCFA does not require exclusive use of this form for 
Medicaid. 42 CFR 414.40, 424.32 and 424.44 are regulations underlying 
the use of the form HCFA-1500 and the information captured on the form 
HCFA-1500, including the use of diagnostic and procedural coding 
systems. HCFA solicits comments on any and all aspects of the HCFA-
1500, and the use of diagnostic and procedural coding systems: HCFA 
currently uses the most current version of the International Code of 
Diagnosis-Volume 9 and Common Procedural Terminology/HCFA Common 
Procedure Coding System;
    Frequency: On occasion;
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions, and State, Local or Tribal Government;
    Number of Respondents: 695,168,330;
    Total Annual Responses: 695,168,330;
    Total Annual Hours: 44,100,662.
    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, to 
P[email protected], or call

[[Page 5667]]

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, 
Attention: Louis Blank, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850 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: January 22, 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. 99-2649 Filed 2-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P