[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8806-8807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2798]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-10030]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection; Title of 
Information Collection: National Medicare Practitioner and Provider 
Survey; Form No.: HCFA-10030 (OMB# 0938-NEW); Use: 1. Health Care 
Financing Administration (HCFA) Program Safeguard Provider Education 
Project (Contract # 500-99-0013, Task Order 00001)--New
    HCFA is conducting a national assessment of Medicare practitioner 
and provider (hereinafter referred to collectively as providers) 
educational needs. The purpose of the needs assessment is to obtain 
information about the education or training related to Medicare claims 
submission that is required by providers to increase their rate of 
correct first-time submission of Medicare claims. Specifically, the 
needs assessment survey will seek information about: (1) What providers 
need to know about accurate claims submission, and (2) what they 
believe would be the best methods for obtaining that information.
    Responses will be gathered from a random sample of fee-for-service 
providers representing both Medicare Part A (hospital-based outpatient 
clinics, emergency rooms, and ambulatory surgery units; home health 
care agencies; and skilled nursing facilities) and Medicare Part B 
(physician and non-physician) providers. The information gathered by 
the needs assessment survey will allow HCFA to develop effective 
education and training tools and resources that address identified 
provider needs and focus on the topics that providers indicated were 
most important for improving accuracy of claims submissions.
    The needs assessment survey will be administered one time only. It 
will be mailed to 9,000 individual and organizational providers 
nationwide that render Medicare services. HCFA anticipates receiving 
approximately 7,200 responses. As an alternative to completing the 
paper survey, respondents will have the option of completing the survey 
electronically using a computer with an Internet connection. A toll-
free telephone line will be available to respondents who have questions 
or need help completing the survey. HCFA is collaborating with national 
and State medical societies and organizations to make providers aware 
of the survey and the importance of their participation in the needs 
assessment process. Publicity about the survey prior to its 
dissemination, along with a follow-up mail reminder and conduct of 
follow-up phone calls to respondents after its dissemination, will 
increase the survey response rate. Burden estimates are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Estimated        Number of     Average  burden/
                         Respondents                              Number  of     responses per     response  (in
                                                                 respondents       respondent         hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey.......................................................           7,200                1            \1/2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 8807]]

    Total Burden: 3,600 hours (at \1/2\ hour each).
    Total Cost to Respondents: $396,000 ($55 per respondent at an 
estimated $110 hourly salary).
    As a part of the Medicare Integrity Program (MIP), HCFA is seeking 
to increase the incidence of correct Medicare claims submitted by 
health care providers. Reduction of incorrect claims will reduce the 
administrative costs associated with review, return, and correction of 
claims prior to reimbursement and will increase the ability to make 
timely payments to providers. By making effective education and 
training resources available, HCFA will help providers improve their 
correct submission rates. Results of this survey will provide a sound 
foundation for the development of those resources.;
    Frequency: Other: One-time only; Affected Public: Business or other 
for-profit; Number of Respondents: 9,000; Total Annual Responses: 
9,000; Total Annual Hours: 3,600.
    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. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed 
within 60 days of this notice directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance 
Officer designated at the following address: HCFA, Office of 
Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA 
Enterprise Standards, Attention: Dawn Willinghan, HCFA-10030, Room N2-
14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: January 23, 2001.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-2798 Filed 2-1-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P