[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 18060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7667]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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    The Department of Defense will submit to OMB for emergency 
processing, the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by April 
12, 2004.
    Title and OMB Number: Viability of TRICARE Standard Survey; OMB 
Number 0720- [To Be Determined].
    Type of Request: New Collection; Emergency processing requested 
with a shortened public comment period of five days. An approval date 
by April 9, 2004, has been requested.
    Number of Respondents: 9,360.
    Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Annual Responses: 9,360.
    Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Annual Burden Hours: 2,340.
    Needs and Uses: The Health Program Analysis and Evaluation 
Directorate (HPAE) under authority of the Office of the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)/TRICARE Management Activity will 
undertake an evaluation of the Department of Defense's TRICARE Standard 
healthcare option. HPAE will collect and analyze data that are 
necessary to meet the requirements outlined in Section 723 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. Activities 
include the collection and analysis of data obtained from civilian 
physicians (MD.s & D.O.s) within U.S. TRICARE market areas. 
Specifically, telephone surveys of civilian providers will be conducted 
in the TRICARE market areas to determine how many healthcare providers 
are accepting new patients under TRICARE Standard in each market area. 
The telephone surveys will be conducted in at least 20 TRICARE market 
areas in the United States each fiscal year until all market areas in 
the United States have been surveyed. In prioritizing the order in 
which these market areas will be surveyed, representatives of TRICARE 
beneficiaries will be consulted in identifying locations with 
historical evidence of access-to-care problems under TRICARE Standard. 
These areas will receive priority in surveying. Information will be 
collected telephonically to determine the number of healthcare 
providers that currently accept TRICARE Standard beneficiaries as 
patients under TRICARE Standard in each market area. Providers will 
also be asked if they would accept TRICARE Standard beneficiaries as 
new patients under TRICARE Standard. Analyses and reports will include 
all legislative requirements.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Frequency: Semi-Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: Mr. John Kraemer.
    Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information 
collection should be sent to Mr. Kraemer at the Office of Management 
and Budget, Desk Officer for DoD Health Affairs, Room 10236, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. Written comments and 
recommendations can be sent directly to the program office to Michael 
Hartzell, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, BSC, Health Program Analysis and 
Evaluation/TMA, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3206.
    DoD Clearance Officer: Mr. Robert Cushing.
    Written requests for copies of the information collection proposal 
should be sent to Mr. Cushing, WHS/ESCD/Information Management 
Division, 1225 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 504, Arlington, VA 22202-
4326; or by Fax at (703) 604-1514.

    Dated: March 30, 2004.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 04-7667 Filed 4-05-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M