[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7123-7124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3447]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10084]


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

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
    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. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance 
procedures because public harm is likely to result if the normal 
clearance process followed. Waiting for the normal clearance process to 
be completed might mean that vulnerable, elderly or disabled Medicare 
beneficiaries in affected areas would have limited or no access to 
physician services for prolonged periods.
    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
March 1, 2003, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and

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recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by February 19, 2003. During this 180-day 
period, we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing 
the initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment 
period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB 
review and an extension of this emergency approval.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Targeted Beneficiary Survey on Access to 
Physician Services Among Medicare Beneficiaries; Form No.: CMS-10084 
(OMB 0938-NEW); Use: Recent anecdotal reports have suggested 
that Medicare beneficiaries in certain parts of the country are having 
difficulty finding physicians who will accept new Medicare patients. In 
response to these anecdotes, CMS implemented a multi-faceted monitoring 
system that incorporated multiple data sources to address 
beneficiaries' reported access problems. As part of this monitoring 
strategy, CMS has designed a Targeted Survey on Access to Physician 
Services Among Medicare Beneficiaries. The survey is designed to 
interview 300 Medicare beneficiaries in each of 11 geographic areas 
where there is some evidence to suggest a potential physician access 
problem. The geographic areas include the state of Alaska; the Phoenix, 
Arizona area; the San Diego, California and San Francisco, California 
areas; the Denver, Colorado area; the Tampa, Florida area; the 
Springfield, Missouri area; the Las Vegas, Nevada area; the Brooklyn, 
New York area; the Fort Worth, Texas area; and the Seattle, Washington 
area. Survey respondents will be Medicare beneficiaries in the 
traditional Medicare program who are covered by part B where Medicare 
is the primary payer. The survey will over sample beneficiaries who are 
most likely to be seeking new physicians. The goal of the survey is to 
confirm or refute anecdotal reports that the Medicare payment 
restrictions are contributing to physician access problems. The survey 
will inform CMS about the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries 
most likely to be experiencing physician access problems. It will 
enhance CMS's ability to consider the potential effects of payment 
changes on beneficiary access. Frequency: One-time; Affected Public: 
Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 4,000; Total Annual 
Responses: 4,000; Total Annual Hours: 958.
    We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of 
these information collections.
    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://cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/default.asp, 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 mailed and/or faxed 
to the designees referenced below, by February 19, 2003:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development 
and Issuances, Attention: Dawn Willinghan, CMS-10084, Room C5-14-03, 
7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

 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: Brenda 
Agular, CMS Desk Officer.

    Dated: February 4, 2003.
Anthony Mazzarella,
Acting, Paperwork Reduction Act Team Leader, CMS Reports Clearance 
Officer, Office of Strategic Operations and Strategic Affairs, Division 
of Regulations Development and Issuances.
[FR Doc. 03-3447 Filed 2-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P