[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26161-26162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11220]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

20 CFR Part 335

RIN 3220-AB44


Sickness Benefits

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Railroad Retirement Board (Board) hereby proposes to amend 
its regulations under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) to 
permit a ``nurse practitioner'' to execute a statement of sickness in 
support of payments of sickness benefits under the RUIA. The Board does 
not currently accept statements executed by a nurse practitioner, which 
in some cases may delay payment of benefits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Secretary to the Board, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 
60611.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael C. Litt, General Attorney, 
(312) 751-4929, TDD (312) 751-4701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 335.2(a)(2) of the Board's 
regulations provides that in order to be entitled to sickness benefits 
under the RUIA, a claimant must provide a ``statement of sickness''. 
Section 335.3(a) of this part lists the individuals from whom the Board 
will accept a statement of sickness. That list does not currently 
include nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners offer health care to 
people throughout the United States. Their practice emphasizes health 
promotion and maintenance, disease prevention, and the diagnosis and 
management of acute and chronic diseases. Nurse

[[Page 26162]]

practitioners are registered nurses with advanced education and 
clinical expertise that qualifies them to diagnose and treat illnesses 
and injuries. Under current regulations, the Board does not accept a 
statement of sickness or supplemental statement of sickness from a 
nurse practitioner. A claimant who submits a statement of sickness 
signed by a nurse practitioner is informed that the statement may not 
be accepted and is required to get a new one signed by an individual 
listed in Sec. 335.3(a). This is administratively costly and delays the 
payment of sickness benefits. Thus, the Board proposes to add ``nurse 
practitioner'' to the list of individuals from whom it will accept a 
statement of sickness.
    The Board, with the concurrence of the Office of Management and 
Budget, has determined that this is not a significant regulatory action 
for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Therefore, no regulatory 
analysis is required. The information collections contemplated by this 
part have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 
control number 3220-0039.

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 335

    Railroad employees, Railroad unemployment insurance, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Railroad Retirement 
Board proposes to amend title 20, chapter II of the Code of Federal 
Regulations as follows:

PART 335--SICKNESS BENEFITS

    1. The authority citation for part 335 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 45 U.S.C. 362(i) and 362(l).

    2. Section 335.3 is amended as follows: remove ``or'' at the end of 
paragraph (a)(9), remove the period and add ``; or'' at the end of 
paragraph (a)(10), and add a new paragraph (a)(11) to read as follows:


Sec. 335.3  Execution of statement of sickness and supplemental 
doctor's statement.

    (a) * * *
    (11) A nurse practitioner.
* * * * *

    Dated: April 28, 2000.

    By Authority of the Board.
Beatrice Ezerski,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 00-11220 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
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