[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19382-19383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8865]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-228]


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

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration.
    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. Due to an unanticipated event and 
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, we are requesting an emergency review.
    In an effort to comply with OMB's terms of clearance, HCFA hired a 
contractor to conduct a study of issues raised by the ACR form in use 
at the time, and to develop recommendations to further reduce the 
workload needed to complete a new form. The project

[[Page 19383]]

took longer to complete than expected which delayed the submission of 
the form for OMB approval. However, the statute (section 1854(a) of the 
Social Security Act) specifically requires this report to be submitted 
to HCFA by July 1 of each year. The form is used to price the M+C plan 
to be offered to Medicare beneficiaries and HCFA must approve the 
pricing structure of the M+C plan before it can be offered to Medicare 
beneficiaries.
    We feel significant improvements were made to the form which are 
intended to simplify the methodology and submission, to reduce the 
amount of reporting burden and backup needed, and to provide more 
flexibility to users.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
June 1, 2000, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by May 22, 2000. 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: Revision of a currently 
approved collection;
    Title of Information Collection: Adjusted Community Rate (ACR) and 
Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 422.306, 422.501, and 422.510;
    Form No.: HCFA-R-228 (OMB# 0938-0742);
    Use: This collection effort will be used to price the M+C plan 
offered to Medicare beneficiaries by an M+C organization. Organizations 
submitting the Adjusted Community Rate form would include all M+C 
organizations plus any organization intending to contract with HCFA as 
a M+C organization. These current M+C organization contractors will be 
required to submit this form no later than July 1, 2000 for the 
calendar year 2001.;
    Frequency: Annually;
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions;
    Number of Respondents: 1,200;
    Total Annual Responses: 1,200;
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 114,000.
    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 
[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 mailed and/or faxed 
to the designees referenced below, by May 22, 2000:

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: April 4, 2000.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-8865 Filed 4-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P