[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44648-44649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21484]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of two information 
collections: (1) Provider Enrollment Form and (2) Request for 
Information on Earnings, Dual Benefits, Dependents, and Third Party 
Settlements.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before October 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0339 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 693-1451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Provider Enrollment Form

I. Background

    Two programs in the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs are 
responsible for maintaining a list of authorized treating physicians 
and medical facilities in the area of the claimant's residence and for 
payment of certain medical bills for services and supplies, provided to 
miners under the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 20 CFR 
725.703(a) and 725.704(b)) and claimants under the Division of Energy 
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (Pub.L. 106-398 
and 20 CFR 30.701). Both of these programs maintain a list of 
registered providers who wish to participate in rendering services and 
supplies for the Program beneficiaries. Provider information on the 
form is used to carry out the payment process and to ensure that 
claimants can be referred to approved providers upon request.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    The Department of Labor seeks the approval of this information 
collection in order to carry out a wide range of full automated medical 
bill edits, such as, cross-checks of provider specialty against type of 
service, status of case reporting, and compilation of historical data 
on selected providers. This information is also utilized to furnish 
timely and detailed reports to providers on the status of previous 
bills. The form is also used to up-date provider billing information.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Provider Enrollment Form.
    OMB Number: 1215-0137.
    Agency Number: OWCP-1168.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Respondents: 9,000.
    Total Annual Responses: 9,000.
    Average Time per Response: 6 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,017.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $3,330.00.

Request for Information on Earnings, Dual Benefits, Dependents, and 
Third Party Settlements

I. Background

    The collection of this information is necessary under provisions of 
the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) which states: (1) 
Compensation must be adjusted to reflect a claimant's earnings while in 
receipt of benefits (5 U.S.C. 8106); (2) compensation is payable at the 
augmented rate of 75 percent only if the claimant has one or more 
dependents as defined by the FECA (5 U.S.C. 8110); (3) compensation may 
not be paid concurrently with certain benefits from other Federal 
Agencies, such as the Office of Personnel Management, Social Security, 
and the Veterans Administration (5 U.S.C. 8116); (4) compensation must 
be adjusted to reflect any settlement from a third party responsible 
for the injury for which the claimant is being paid compensation (5 
U.S.C. 8132); (5) an individual convicted of any violation related to 
fraud in the application for, or receipt of, any compensation benefit, 
forfeits (as of the date of such conviction) any entitlement to such 
benefits, for any injury occurring on or before the date of conviction 
(5 U.S.C. 8148 (a)); and, (6) no Federal compensation benefit can be 
paid to any individual for any period during which such individual is 
incarcerated for any felony offense (5 U.S.C. 8148 (b)(1)). The 
information collected through Form CA-1032 is used to ensure that 
compensation being paid on the periodic roll is correct.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information,

[[Page 44649]]

including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    The Department of Labor seeks the approval of this information 
collection in order to ensure that compensation being paid on the 
periodic roll is correct.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Request for Information on Earnings, Dual Benefits, 
Dependents, and Third Party Settlements.
    OMB Number: 1215-0151.
    Agency Number: CA-1032.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Respondents: 50,000.
    Total Annual Responses: 50,000.
    Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 16,667.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $18,500.00.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: August 16, 2001.
Margaret J. Sherrill,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-21484 Filed 8-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P