[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79868-79869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32335]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-10026]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, DHHS.
    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 
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 that Medicare beneficiaries are 
able to continue to receive care in the event that their managed care 
provider leaves the Medicare program. We cannot reasonably comply with 
the normal clearance procedures because of public harm due to an 
unanticipated event. An unexpectedly significant number of managed care 
plans withdrew from Medicare or reduced their service areas at the end 
of 1998 and 1999 and more will withdraw at the end of 2000. We are 
concerned about the impact of the withdrawals on beneficiaries, 
particularly those living in areas with no remaining managed care 
options. We are also concerned about beneficiary confusion related to 
the withdrawals and beneficiary understanding of the options for 
replacing managed care coverage. As a result we need to conduct a 
survey that will give us the information we need to assist the 
beneficiaries.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
January 15, 2001 with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by January 8, 2001. 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: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Survey of 
Beneficiaries Who Involuntarily Disenroll from Their Managed Care Plan; 
HCFA Form Number: HCFA-10026 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW); Use: In 
December 2000, over 100 managed care plans will withdraw from Medicare 
or reduce their service area, affecting nearly 1,000,000 Medicare 
beneficiaries. HCFA wishes to survey approximately 3,400 affected 
beneficiaries in early 2001 to determine how they were affected by the 
withdrawals and whether they received sufficient information about 
options for replacing their managed care coverage; Frequency: Once; 
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 
3,385; Total Annual Responses: 3,385; Total Annual Burden Hours: 587.
    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.

[[Page 79869]]

    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/regs/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 January 8, 2001:

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) 786-0207 Attn: Julie Brown HCFA-10026
        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: Wendy Taylor 
HCFA Desk Officer.

    Dated: December 5, 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. 00-32335 Filed 12-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P