[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15823-15824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7987]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-P-0015SPA]


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

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS) (formerly known as 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 
collection 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. Due to the events of September 11, 2001, the timing of this 
proposed information collection has been negatively affected. We are 
requesting Emergency OMB review for this supplement since this is a 
beneficial survey and it can do no harm if OMB acted upon this sooner 
than the normal timeframe. The 60-day Federal Register notice was 
published on January 8, 2002, for which we solicited public comment. 
CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by April 
25, 2002, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by April 22, 2002.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey--Supplement 
on Patient Activation;
    Form No.: CMS-P-0015SPA (OMB# 0938-NEW); Use: A primary theme of 
the NMEP education efforts has been to help Medicare beneficiaries make 
choices. Simply providing uniform information to an undifferentiated 
audience is not sufficient. CMS needs to know whether beneficiaries 
have the communication skills, motivation and basic knowledge of their 
own health status to be partners in their own health care. The purpose 
of this survey supplement is to assess the degree to which Medicare 
beneficiaries participate actively in their own health care decisions.; 
Frequency: One-time; Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Number 
of Respondents: 16,000; Total Annual Responses: 16,000; Total Annual 
Hours: 2,666.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS'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 CMS 
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

[[Page 15824]]

mailed and/or faxed to the designees referenced below, by April 22, 
2002:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Information 
Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise 
Standards, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-
1850, Fax Number: (410) 786-0262, Attn: Dawn Willinghan, CMS-P-0015SPA.
      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: Allison 
Eydt, CMS Desk Officer.

    Dated: March 12, 2002.
John P. Burke III,
CMS Reports Clearance Officer, CMS, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 02-7987 Filed 4-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P