[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 43359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16179]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for 
public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad 
Retirement Board (RRB) will publish summaries of proposed data 
collections.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information 
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection 
of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Title and purpose of information collection:

Medicare; OMB 3220-0082

    Under Section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the 
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Medicare program for 
persons covered by the railroad retirement system. The RRB uses Form 
AA-6, Employee Application for Medicare; Form AA-7, Spouse/Divorced 
Spouse Application for Medicare; and Form AA-8, Widow/Widower 
Application for Medicare; to obtain the information needed to determine 
whether individuals who have not yet filed for benefits under the RRA 
are qualified for Medicare payments provided under Title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act.
    Further, in order for RRB to determine if a qualified railroad 
retirement beneficiary who is claiming supplementary medical insurance 
coverage under Medicare is entitled to a Special Enrollment Period 
(SEP) and/or premium surcharge relief because of coverage under an 
Employer Group Health Plan (EGHP), is needs to obtain information 
regarding the claimant's EGHP coverage, if any. The RRB uses Form RL-
311-F, Evidence of Coverage Under An Employer Group Health Plan, to 
obtain the basic information needed by the RRB to establish EGHP 
coverage for a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary. Completion of 
the forms is required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of 
each respondent.
    The RRB proposes revisions to Forms AA-6, AA-7 and AA-8 to 
incorporate a new item needed to determine eligibility due to the 5-
year vesting provision under the Railroad Retirement and Income 
Security Act of 2001. No changes were proposed to Form RL-311-F. The 
RRB estimates that 180 Form AA-6's, 50 Form AA-7's, and 10 Form AA-8's 
are completed annually. The completion time for Forms AA-6, AA-7 and 
AA-8 is estimated at 8 minutes. The completion time for Form RL-311-F 
is estimated at 10 minutes. The RRB estimates that 800 RL-311-F's are 
completed annually.
    Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or 
to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, 
and/or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at 
(312) 751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be 
addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North 
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-16179 Filed 6-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7095-01-M