[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34661-34662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16268]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier HCFA-R-286]


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

    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 (DHHS), 
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 of the 
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 
collection 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. The fact that this collection of 
this information is needed before the expiration of the normal time 
limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR, Part 1320, will cause public 
harm. We are requesting an emergency review.
    If HCFA cannot disseminate information in a timely manner to 
partners who work with Medicare beneficiaries, as benefits counselors, 
the beneficiaries will not be able to make informed choices. The 
present request is for OMB authorization to collect data on the 
reactions of users of the web site, www.medicare.gov/nmep. We will use 
the data to improve the web site so that it can best serve the needs of 
the users. The designers of the web site are preparing new sections, 
functionality, and updates and will introduce changes to the site by 
the end of July 1999. Expedited review of this submission is requested 
so that pending enhancements and updates incorporate information 
collected from users. With an expedited review, the staff of the web 
site will have evaluation findings in sufficient time to guide the 
revisions planned for the site. In addition to the need for having 
feedback to implement anticipated changes in the web site, the World 
Wide Web site was created through Federal law and requires a systematic 
assessment. Under the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, a provision was 
established to provide information to beneficiaries in order to promote 
informed choice. One activity for widely disseminating information on 
coverage options, that was required, was the creation of ``an Internet 
site through which individuals may electronically obtain information on 
such options and Medicare+ Choice (MEDICARE+CHOICE) plans in states 
which MEDICARE+CHOICE plans are offered.'' As a result, the 
medicare.gov/nmep site was created to provide Medicare beneficiaries, 
their caregivers, and partners with an official source for Medicare 
information on the Internet. This site, medicare.gov, was designed for 
partners in the national Alliance network and for others interested in 
providing and disseminating up-to-date

[[Page 34662]]

and timely information on the National Medicare Education Program to 
Medicare beneficiaries. The Alliance Network was ``designed as a 
proactive alliance that helps each member organization improve program 
outcomes.'' Comprehensive information for partners involved in helping 
Medicare beneficiaries with their health care decisions is available on 
the medicare.gov/nmep web site. We need to receive quick feedback from 
our partners about the usefulness of the site to ensure that we are 
meeting their needs. Given that we are in the middle of the National 
Medicare Education campaign, without an expedited clearance, we would 
be unable to make changes to the medicare.gov/nmep web site based on 
feedback from Alliance members and other consumers and to conduct an 
ongoing review.
    The purpose of this submission is to request approval to collect 
information from Internet users as they exit from the web site 
medicare.gov/nmep which is provided by the Health Care Financing 
Administration. It is critical to obtain feedback from users of this 
web site so that the agency can continually revise the site to respond 
to the needs of the partners and Medicare beneficiaries. As part of the 
effort to determine how the web site can serve the partners best, we 
request approval from OMB of ``bounceback'' form. Internet users will 
fill out a bounceback form after visiting the web site. The results of 
the form will be compiled and studied so that future revisions to the 
web site are guided by the needs and preferences of the people who use 
the web sites.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
July 7, 1999, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individual designated below, by July 6, 1999.
    During this 180-period, HCFA will pursue OMB clearance of this 
collection as stipulated by 5 CFR 1320.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection;
    Title of Information Collection: Collection of Assessment 
Information on the HCFA website: www.medicare.gov/nmep;
    Form Nos.: HCFA-R-0286;
    Use: The purpose of the bounceback forms is to provide feedback to 
HCFA. The information collected through the bounceback form will be 
used in conjunction with other information collected about the web 
sites through focus groups and interviews with members of the Alliance 
Network. The combined information will guide future improvements to the 
web sites. There is no plan to disseminate the information, other than 
through public health, medical, or other professional journals, in 
which we may report the results.
    Frequency: Users will have the opportunity to complete the 
bounceback form whenever they exit the web site.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for 
profit, and not for profit institutions;
     Number of Respondents: 49,300;
    Total Annual Responses: 49,300;
    Total Annual Hours: 5,752;
    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.
    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 record keeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed 
to the designee referenced below by July 6, 1999:

Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards, 
Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax 
Number: (410) 786-0262 Attn: Louis Blank HCFA-R-0286
        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: June 17, 1999.
John Parmigiani,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-16268 Filed 6-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P