[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 194 (Thursday, October 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59432-59433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25578]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-264A-H, HCFA-684A-I, and HCFA-685]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

    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, has 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following 
proposal for the collection of information. Interested persons are 
invited to send comments regarding the 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.
    (1) Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection;
    Title of Information Collection: Medicare DMEPOS Competitive 
Bidding Demonstration;
    Form No.: HCFA-R-264 A-H (OMB# 0938-0748);
    Use: Section 1847 of the Social Security Act, as added by Section 
4319 of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA), mandates HCFA to implement

[[Page 59433]]

demonstration projects under which competitive acquisition areas are 
established for contract award purposes for the furnishing of Part B 
items and services, except for physician's services. The demonstration 
currently operating in Polk County, Florida and the demonstration 
planned for San Antonio, Texas involve competitive bidding of 
categories of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and 
supplies (DMEPOS). The new set of products to be offered for 
competitive bidding in San Antonio are: Oxygen equipment and supplies, 
hospital beds, non-customized orthotic devices, manual wheelchairs and 
accessories, and nebulizer inhalation drugs. Under the law, suppliers 
can receive payments from Medicare for items and services covered by 
the demonstration only if their bids are competitive in terms of 
quality and price. Each demonstration project may be conducted in up to 
three metropolitan areas for a three year period. Authority for the 
demonstration expires on December 31, 2002.
    There are eight forms that are required for this demonstration. 
Form A will be used by the bidding supplier to provide information 
about the characteristics of the company. Form B will be used by the 
bidding supplier to provide specific information about the prices it 
bids for specific product categories, and to provide information about 
the attributes of the supplier in relation to the specific product 
category. Form C will be used by HCFA or its agents to obtain 
information on site regarding the bidding supplier. Form D will be used 
by HCFA or its agents to obtain financial references on the bidding 
supplier from banks and other financial sources. Form E will be used by 
HCFA or its agents to obtain information about the bidding suppliers 
from referral sources such as home health agencies and hospital 
discharge planners. Form F will be used to obtain information about the 
suppliers' financial status and to assure that they have sufficient 
fiscal resources to operate in a competitive environment where the 
prices being paid for some products are less than what have been 
customarily paid. It is required only from suppliers whose bids are in 
the competitive range. Form G will be used for nursing homes to 
identify their suppliers of products and services who have not been 
awarded Demonstration Supplier status for services to beneficiaries in 
their home. This is to permit payment to those suppliers for products 
and services furnished to nursing homes. Form H will be used to monitor 
the performance of Demonstration Suppliers to assure their adherence to 
the quality standards established for the project.
    The competitive bidding demonstration for DMEPOS has the following 
objectives:
     Test the policies and implementation methods of 
competitive bidding to determine whether or not it should be expanded 
as a Medicare Program.
     Reduce the price that Medicare pays for medical equipment 
and supplies.
     Limit beneficiary out-of-pocket expenditures for 
copayments.
     Assure beneficiary access to high quality medical 
equipment and supplies.
     Prevent business transactions with suppliers who engage in 
fraudulent practices.
    Frequency: On occasion;
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, and not-for-profit 
institutions;
    Number of Respondents: 5,100;
    Total Annual Responses: 1,700;
    Total Annual Hours: 12,420.

    (2) Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection;
    Title of Information Collection: End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) 
Network Business Proposal Forms and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 
405.2110 and 405.2112;
    Form No.: HCFA-684A-I (OMB# 0938-0658);
    Use: The submission of business proposal information by current 
ESRD networks and other bidders, according to the business proposal 
instructions, meets HCFA's need for meaningful, consistent, and 
verifiable data when evaluating contract proposals;
    Frequency: Other: Every 3 years;
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions;
    Number of Respondents: 18;
    Total Annual Responses: 36;
    Total Annual Hours: 1,080.

    (3) Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a 
currently approved collection;
    Title of Information Collection: End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) 
Network Semi-Annual Cost Report Forms and Supporting Regulations in 42 
CFR 405.2110 and 405.2112;
    Form No.: HCFA-685 (OMB# 0938-0657);
    Use: Submission of semi-annual cost reports allow HCFA to review, 
compare, and project ESRD network costs. The reports are used as an 
early warning system to determine whether the networks are in danger of 
exceeding the total cost of the contract. Additionally, HCFA can 
analyze line item costs to identify any significant aberrations;
    Frequency: Semi-annually;
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions;
    Number of Respondents: 18;
    Total Annual Responses: 36;
    Total Annual Hours: 108.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement 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 and phone number, to [email protected], or call 
the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed 
within 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB Desk Officer 
designated at the following address: OMB Human Resources and Housing 
Branch, Attention: Allison Eydt, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, D.C. 20503.

    Dated: September 20, 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. 00-25578 Filed 10-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P