[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 166 (Friday, August 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46919-46920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22266]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-295]


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 
CFR, Part 1320. The Agency cannot reasonably comply with the normal 
clearance procedures because public harm is likely to result due to the 
possibility of Medicare beneficiaries receiving incomplete information. 
This information is needed to help beneficiaries have and make informed 
choices about health plans. Research conducted with Medicare 
beneficiaries in the course of this disenrollment survey development, 
confirms that beneficiaries want to know the reasons behind the 
disenrollment rates when selecting a plan and could not make much sense 
of the rates alone. The reasons for the disenrollments can only be 
supplied by this survey. In addition, the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 
1997, requires the calculation and presentation of ``(I) disenrollment 
rates for Medicare enrollees electing to receive benefits through the 
plan for the previous 2 years (excluding disenrollment due to death or 
moving outside the plan's service area)''; and ``(ii) information on 
Medicare enrollee satisfaction.'' Under the BBA, HCFA is required to 
provide a wealth of general and plan comparative information to 
beneficiaries that will help them make more informed health plan 
choices. This survey will do that.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
September 27, 1999, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments 
and recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by September 23, 1999. 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: New Collection;
    Title of Information Collection: Medicare CAHPS Disenrollment 
Survey;
    Form No.: HCFA-R-295 (OMB# 0938-NEW);
    Use: This survey will be used to collect information from Medicare 
beneficiaries who have disenrolled from their health plans during the 
past year. The purpose of this information is to obtain their ratings 
of their former plans and the reasons why they left. The survey results 
will be reported to all beneficiaries in print and on the Internet for 
the purpose of informed choices.;
    Frequency: Annually;
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households;
    Number of Respondents: 90,000;
    Total Annual Responses: 72,000;
    Total Annual Hours: 23,760.
    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 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

[[Page 46920]]

mailed and/or faxed to the designees referenced below, by September 23, 
1999:
Health Care Financing Administration, 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

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: August 19, 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. 99-22266 Filed 8-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P