[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 24349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11966]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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

    The Department of Defense will submit to OMB for emergency 
processing, the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Title and OMB Number: TRICARE for Life Beneficiary Information 
Update Form; OMB Number 0720-[To Be Determined].
    Type of Request: New Collection; Emergency processing requested 
with a shortened public comment period ending May 22, 2001. An approval 
date by May 25, 2001 has been requested.
    Number of Respondents: 1,200,000.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Annual Responses: 1,200,000.
    Average Burden per Response: 5 minutes.
    Annual Burden Hours: 99,600.
    Needs and Uses: The Department of Defense (DoD), TRICARE Management 
Activity, will collect Medicare and other health insurance information 
in support of the TRICARE for Life Program. This information is 
necessary to allow the Department to accurately interface with Medicare 
to validate Medicare Part A and Part B coverage in accordance with the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001, prior to 
extending TRICARE's health benefits to TRICARE eligible beneficiaries. 
Additionally, DoD will collect other health insurance information 
prospectively to allow the accurate adjudication of claims for health 
benefits. Other health insurance information is routinely collected 
during the health care claims adjudication process; however, delaying 
the collection of this information for approximately 1.5 million new 
TRICARE for Life beneficiaries will result in very significant delays 
in the adjudication of TRICARE for Life medical claims. As such, the 
Department will request Medicare and other health insurance information 
from TRICARE for Life beneficiaries early this summer to maximize the 
delivery of health care financing service provided TRICARE for Life 
beneficiaries on October 1, 2001. It is important to note that no 
benefits will be denied as a result of a beneficiary electing not to 
provide the information. The Department will implement normal processes 
foe obtaining the required information during the claims adjudication 
process for any beneficiary who elects not to provide the information 
prospectively.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Frequency: One-Time.
    Respondent's obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: Mr. Stuart Shapiro.
    Written comments and recommendation on the proposed information 
collection should be sent to Mr. Shapiro at the Office of Management 
and Budget, Desk Officer for DoD (Health Affairs), Room 10235, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.
    DOD Clearance Officer: Mr. Robert Cushing.
    Written requests for copies of the information collection proposal 
should be sent to Mr. Cushing, WHS/DIOR, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, or by fax at (703) 604-6270.

    Dated: May 4, 2001.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 01-11966 Filed 5-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-08-M