[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23654-23655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11050]


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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 requirement 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) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects 
being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call 
the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1891.
    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: Uncompensated Services Reporting and 
Recordkeeping--42 CFR 124, Subpart F (OMB No. 0915-0077): Revision

    Titles VI and XVI of the Public Health Service Act, commonly known 
as the Hill-Burton Act, provide for government grants and loans for 
construction or renovation of health care facilities. As a condition of 
receiving this construction assistance, facilities are required to 
provide a ``reasonable volume'' of services to persons unable to pay. 
Facilities are also required to provide assurances periodically that 
the required level of uncompensated care is being provided, and to 
follow certain notification and recordkeeping procedures. These 
requirements are referred to as the uncompensated services assurance.
    The regulations contain provisions for reporting to the government 
the amount of free care provided, as well as provisions for following 
certain notification and recordkeeping procedures. All of these 
regulations are included in this clearance request. The Uncompensated 
Services Assurance Report (USAR) (HRSA form 710) is one of the methods 
of reporting the amount of free care provided. There are no changes to 
the USAR form. There will be a significant reduction in the burden from 
the previous request for OMB approval since many facilities have met 
their obligations over the last 3 years. In addition, now that most now 
facilities are having a substantial compliance review done annually, 
very few facilities need to submit the USAR form. Burden estimates are 
as follows:

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                                     Number of     Responses per       Total        Burden per     Total burden
           Requirement              respondents     respondent       responses       response          hours
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Disclosure requirements (42
 CFR):
    Published Notices (124.504               389               1             389             .75             292
     (a)).......................
    Individual Notices (124.504              389               1             389           43.6           16,960
     (c)).......................
    Determinations of                        389             396         154,044             .75         115,533
     Eligibility (124.507)......
Reporting Requirements Form 710:
    USAR (124.509 (a))..........              10               1              10           11                110
Complaint Information 124.511
 (a):
    Individuals.................              10               1              10             .25               3
    Facilities..................              10               1              10             .5                5
    Application for Compliance                 4               1               4            6                 24
     Alternative for Public
     Facilities (124.513 (c))...
    Annual Certification for                 195               1             195             .5               98
     Public Facilities (124.509
     (b)).......................
    Application for Compliance                 0               0               0            0                  0
     Alternative for Small
     Obligation Facilities
     (124.514(c))...............
    Annual Certification for                   1               1               1             .5                1
     Small Obligation Facilities
     (124.509(c))...............
    Application for Compliance                 2               1               2            6                 12
     Alternative for Charitable
     Facilities (124.516(c))....

[[Page 23655]]

 
    Annual Certification for                  26               1              26             .5               13
     Charitable Facilities
     (124.516(c))...............
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal: Reporting and   ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............         133,051
         Disclosure.............


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                                                                     Number of                     Recordkeeping
                           Requirement                             recordkeepers       Hours          burden
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Nonalternative Facilities (124.510(a))..........................             389              50          19,450
    Small Obligation Facilities (124.510(b))....................              *0               0               0
    Public Facilities (124.510(b))..............................              *0               0               0
    Charitable Facilities (124.510(b))..........................               0               0               0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal: Recordkeeping.................................  ..............  ..............         19,450
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*Requires facilities under the public facilities compliance alternative, the charitable facilities compliance
  alternative, and the small obligation compliance alternative to maintain qualification documents. These are
  ordinarily retained by facilities, so there is no burden.

    Total burden for this project is estimated to be 152,501 hours. 
Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 14-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. 
Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: April 27, 1999.
Jane Harrison,
Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 99-11050 Filed 4-30-99; 8:45 am]
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