[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 155 (Thursday, August 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49001-49002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20284]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-260]


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 
collection 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 the fact that the 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. This is necessary to ensure compliance with the 
Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA). We cannot reasonably 
comply with the normal clearance procedures because we will not be able 
to determine adequately and timely whether a potential accreditation 
organization for Medicare+Choice should be approved unless we have the 
necessary guidelines against which we can compare the organization's 
standards. Thus, public harm may result if we approve an organization 
whose standards are not at least as stringent as ours. We are required 
to act on applications within 210 days from date of receipt and have 
begun to receive applications.
    The Quality Improvement System for Managed Care (QISMC), developed 
with the assistance of State and industry representatives, consists of 
a set of standards and guidelines that are designed to implement the 
provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and the regulations, 
HCFA-1030-IFC (which established the Medicare+Choice program) and HCFA-
2001-P (which would revise the Medicaid managed care program). For 
Medicare, the QISMC document is equivalent to a program manual. As 
such, the document simply represents HCFA's administrative 
interpretation of the Medicare+Choice requirements relating to an 
organization's operation and performance in the areas of quality 
measurement and improvement and the delivery of health care and 
enrollee services. For Medicaid, the standards and guidelines are tools 
for States to use at their discretion in ensuring the quality of 
managed care organizations with Medicaid contracts. Use of the QISMC 
standards assures States that the quality standards they adopt most 
closely resemble the standards HCFA will be using with Medicare+Choice 
organizations.
    The purpose of this submission is to request approval of use of the 
revised QISMC standards and guidelines. The revised QISMC standards and 
guidelines are only slightly different from those currently approved. 
They incorporate clarifications issued in response to questions from 
the public generated by the original QISMC and to changes to the M+C 
regulations made either as the result of public comments or as the 
result of statutory changes. None of the changes increase the burden on 
managed care organizations.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection 
within ten

[[Page 49002]]

working days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, 
with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and recommendations 
will be accepted from the public if received by the individuals 
designated below by nine working days of the publication of this 
notice. 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: Quality Improvement System 
for Managed Care; Form Number: HCFA-R-260 (OMB approval #0938-0745); 
Use: The QISMC standards and guidelines are designed to implement the 
quality assurance provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997(as 
amended by the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999) and the 
regulations they generated, HCFA-1030-IFC and HCFA-2001-P; Frequency:. 
Annual; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of 
Respondents: 263; Total Annual Responses: 263; Total Annual Hours 
Requested: 1 hour.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement for the proposed 
paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's Web Site Address 
at www.hcfa.gov/regs/prdact95.htm, or E-mail your request, including 
your address and 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 record keeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed 
to the designees referenced below within nine working days of the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register:
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-260
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: July 31, 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. 00-20284 Filed 8-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P