[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 129 (Monday, July 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40302-40303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17056]


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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 collection: Uniform Billing Form 
(OWCP-92). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section 
of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before September 5, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, Email esa.gov">[email protected]esa.gov. 
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or 
Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 40303]]

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the 
Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) 5 U.S.C. 8101, et seq., the 
Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., and the Energy 
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 
(EEOICPA), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq. These Acts provide, in addition to 
compensation for employment-related injury and/or disability, payments 
to provider institutions for certain non-professional medical treatment 
and services related to the injury or disability. The Uniform Billing 
Form (OWCP-92) consists of the industry standard billing form (UB-92), 
which has been approved by the American Hospital Association, the 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Civilian Health and 
Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), by various other 
government health care programs, and the private sector, for the 
purpose of payment to institutional providers of medical services. The 
OWCP-92 also includes detailed instructions developed by OWCP that 
provide the information necessary to providers who file bills for 
services that may be payable under FECA, BLBA and the EEOICPA. This 
information collection is currently approved for use through December 
31, 2003.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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 approval for the extension of this 
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to 
provide payment covered medical services to injured employees who are 
covered under the FECA, BLBA and the EEOICPA.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Uniform Billing Form.
    OMB Number: 1215-0176.
    Agency Number: OWCP-92.
    Affected Public: Individual or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Total Respondents: 57,679.
    Total Responses: 230,716.
    Time per Response: 7 minutes.
    Frequency: On Occassion.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 26,925.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    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: June 30, 2003.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-17056 Filed 7-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P