[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8976-8977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4216]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-R-234]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

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

[[Page 8977]]

minimize the information collection burden.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Subpart D--
Private Contracts and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 405.410, 
405.430, 405.435, 405.440, 405.445, 405.455, 410.61, 415.110, and 
424.24; Form No.: CMS-R-234 (OMB 0938-0730); Use: Section 4507 
of the BBA of 1997 amended section 1802 of the Social Security Act to 
permit certain physicians and practitioners to opt-out of Medicare and 
to provide through private contracts services that would otherwise be 
covered by Medicare. Under such contracts the mandatory claims 
submission and limiting charge rules of section 1848(g) of the Act 
would not apply. Subpart D and the supporting regulations contained in 
42 CFR 405.410, 405.430, 405.435, 405.440, 405.445, and 405.455, 
counters the effect of certain provisions of Medicare law that, absent 
section 4507 of BBA 1997, preclude physicians and practitioners from 
contracting privately with Medicare beneficiaries to pay without regard 
to Medicare limits; Frequency: Biennially; Affected Public: Business or 
other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 26,820; Total Annual 
Responses: 26,820; Total Annual Hours: 7,197. To obtain copies of the 
supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork 
collections referenced above, access CMS 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. Written comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be mailed within 30 days of this 
notice directly to the OMB desk officer: OMB Human Resources and 
Housing Branch, Attention: Brenda Aguilar, New Executive Office 
Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503; Fax (202) 395-6929.

    Dated: February 19, 2004.
John P. Burke III,
Paperwork Reduction Act Team Leader, CMS Reports Clearance Officer, 
Office of Strategic Operations and Strategic Affairs, Division of 
Regulations Development and Issuances.
[FR Doc. 04-4216 Filed 2-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P