[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 140 (Thursday, July 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 45091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18441]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifiers: HCFA-R-296 (OMB # 0938-0781)]


Intent of Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection 
Meeting To Discuss Requirements To Be Resubmitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Concerning the Home Health Agency 
Beneficiary Notices

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, in the near future, the Health Care 
Financing Administration (HCFA), Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS), will be submitting to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) a request for Emergency review of the revised Home Health 
Advance Beneficiary Notice (HHABN).
    We will be 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. Due to the 
requirement to implement the home health agency (HHA) prospective 
payment system (PPS), on or about October 1, 2000, the Agency cannot 
reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures because public 
harm is likely to result because eligible individuals will not receive 
their health insurance protections required under Federal law.
    In order to fairly evaluate whether an information collection 
should be approved by OMB, consistent with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
PRA, HCFA will hold a public meeting to permit interested parties an 
opportunity to give their views on how the content and distribution of 
the HHABNs may need to be revised in order to accomodate the changes 
associated with the implementation of the HHA prospective payment 
system. Representatives of the HHA industry, health care consumer 
advocacy groups, and provider groups, and other members of the public 
who wish to participate in the public meeting are asked to notify the 
Agency in advance of their interest in attending. At this meeting, the 
Health Care Financing Administration will solicit comments on the 
following issues:
     The need for the information collection and its usefulness 
in carrying out the proper functions of our agency.
     The accuracy of our estimate of the information collection 
burden.
     The quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected.
     Recommendations to minimize the information collection 
burden on the affected public, including automated collection 
techniques.
     Relevance of comments received on the HHABNs previously 
published in the Federal Register.
    The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 25, 2000, from 1-5 
p.m., in the Multipurpose Room (Capacity: 100 persons) of the Health 
Care Financing Administration, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21244. Interested parties should provide notification of their 
planned attendance to John Burke either via telephone (401) 786-1325, 
fax (410) 786-0262, or e-mail: [email protected]. by no later than 3 
p.m., Friday, July 21, 2000.

    Dated: July 17, 2000.
Edward A. King,
Deputy Director, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards 
Group, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-18441 Filed 7-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P