[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 116 (Thursday, June 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32508-32509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15421]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-0260 and R-0275]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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.
    1. Type of Information Request: Extension of a currently approved 
collection; Title of Information Collection: Quality Improvement System 
for Managed Care (QISMC); Form Number: HCFA-R-0260 (OMB approval #: 
0938-0745); Use: The primary purpose of the QISMC standards and 
guidelines is to implement regulatory requirements relating to Medicare 
and Medicaid managed care organizations' operation and performance in 
the areas of quality measurement and improvement,

[[Page 32509]]

delivery of health care, and enrollee services. For Medicare, the QISMC 
document is equivalent to a program manual. For Medicaid, the standards 
and guidelines are tools for States to use at their discretion in 
ensuring the quality of managed care organizations with Medicaid 
contracts. These standards parallel many of the Balanced Budget Act of 
1997 quality assurance provisions. Frequency:. Annual; Affected Public: 
Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 952; Total Annual 
Responses: 952; Total Annual Hours Requested: 1 hour.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Peer Review Evaluation of Access to and Quality 
of Home Oxygen Equipment; Form No.: HCFA-R-0275 (OMB# 0938-new); Use: 
The Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 reduced payment allowances for 
home oxygen by 25 percent effective January 1, 1998 and an additional 
five percent effective January 1, 1999. As a result of these fee 
schedule reductions, the BBA requires a study be made of issues 
relating to home oxygen equipment. The study's primary objectives are: 
to evaluate any changes in access to, and quality of, home oxygen 
equipment provided to Medicare beneficiaries as a result of the fee 
schedule reduction; and describe current physician practices in 
ordering and prescribing home oxygen services.; Frequency: One time 
only; Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other 
for-profit, and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 
2,500; Total Annual Responses: 2,500; Total Annual Hours: 787.
    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 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB desk officer: OMB 
Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Allison Eydt, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, D.C. 20503.

    Dated: June 10, 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. 99-15421 Filed 6-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P