[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19783-19784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9119]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-0245]


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,

[[Page 19784]]

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 before the 
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR, 
part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with section 1895 of 
the Social Security Act. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal 
clearance procedures because section 1895 of the Social Security Act 
requires us to begin paying home health agencies under a prospective 
payment system for cost reporting periods beginning October 1, 2000. In 
order to be able to do that, we must be able to revise current OASIS 
schedules and make them available to home health providers, allowing 
sufficient time for training. Moreover, current HAVEN software, used to 
transmit OASIS data, and new grouper software used to assign a case mix 
will need to be revised/developed, tested, and produced before being 
made available to providers and vendors. If emergency clearance for 
these requested changes is obtained, current production schedules will 
allow for a summer release of the revised HAVEN software and the new 
grouper software and would allow for adequate staff training of the 
product and its appropriate use. It is in the public interest for the 
HHAs to be able to be ready to collect data timely.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
April 21, 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 April 17, 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 Request: Revision of a currently approved 
collection; Title of Information Collection: Collection of OASIS Data 
for Prospective Payment System Purposes and for Masking Data; HCFA Form 
Number: HCFA-R-0245 (OMB approval #: 0938-0760); Use: We are requesting 
emergency clearance of our proposal to modify the currently approved 
OASIS forms HCFA-R-245D for purposes of case mix adjustment of payment 
rates under home health PPS and to modify the OASIS data assessment 
schedule to allow for the preservation of masking of personally 
identifiable information for the non-Medicare/non-Medicaid individuals; 
Frequency: On occasion; Affected Public: Businesses or other for-
profit, Not-for-profit institutions, Federal Government; State, Local, 
or Tribal Government; Number of Respondents: 8,200; Total Annual 
Responses: 8,200; Total Annual Burden Hours: 967,600.
    We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of 
these information collections. A notice will be published in the 
Federal Register when approval is obtained.
    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/reg/prdact95.htm, or E-mail 
your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and 
HCFA document identifier, 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 April 17, 2000.
    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: Julie Brown HCFA-R-245
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. 00-9119 Filed 4-10-00; 9:38 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-M