[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55065-55066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24053]


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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: Provider Enrollment Form 
(OWCP-1168). 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 November 21, 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 [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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., and the Longshore and Harbor 
Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), 33 U.S.C. 901 et seq. These statutes 
require OWCP to pay for medical and vocational rehabilitation services 
provided to beneficiaries. In order for OWCP's billing contractor to 
pay providers of these services with its automated bill processing 
system, providers must ``enroll'' with one or more of the OWCP programs 
that administer the statutes by submitting certain profile information, 
including identifying information, tax I.D. information, and whether 
they possess specialty or sub-specialty training. Form OWCP-1168 is 
used to obtain this information from each provider. If this information 
is not obtained before the provider submits his or her first bill, the 
bill payment process is prolonged and increases the burden on 
providers. This information collection is currently approved for use 
through March 31, 2004.

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

[[Page 55066]]

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 a wide range of automated 
medical bill ``edits'', such as, the identification of duplicate 
billings, the application of pertinent fee schedules that apply to the 
programs, utilization review, and fraud and abuse detection. This 
information is also used to furnish timely and detailed reports to 
providers on the status of previously submitted bills.
    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.
    Total Respondents: 12,600
    Total Responses: 12,600
    Time per Response: 8 minutes.
    Frequency: On Occassion.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,676
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $5,040
    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: September 15, 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. 03-24053 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P