[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 166 (Friday, August 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52724-52725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19681]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects 
being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call 
the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Proposed Project: Free Clinic--FTCA Deeming Application (NEW.)
    Congress legislated FTCA medical malpractice protection for free 
clinic volunteer health professionals through Section 194 of the Health 
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) amending Section 
224 of the Public Health Service Act. Individuals eligible to 
participate in this program are health care practitioners volunteering 
at free clinics who meet specific eligibility requirements. If an 
individual meets all the requirements of this program they can be 
``deemed'' to be a Federal employee. This deemed status is specifically 
to provide immunity from medical malpractice lawsuits as a result of 
the performance of medical, surgical, dental, or related activities 
within the scope of the volunteer's work at the free clinic.
    The sponsoring free clinic entity must submit an application to the 
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This application 
will require information about the sponsoring free clinic's 
credentialing system, risk management practices, and quality assurance 
system in order to ensure the Government is not exposed to undue 
liability resulting from the medical malpractice coverage of non-
qualified health care professionals. Attached to the application will 
be a listing of specific health care providers for whom the sponsoring 
free clinic is requesting deemed status.
    Estimates of annualized reporting burden are as follows:

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                                                               Responses                                Total
                  Type of form                    Number of       per         Total      Hours per      burden
                                                 respondents   respondent   responses     response      hours
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FTCA Deeming Application.......................          600            1          600          2.5        1,500
                                                --------------
    Total......................................          600  ...........          600  ...........        1,500
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[[Page 52725]]

    Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 14-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this 
notice.

    Dated: August 24, 2004.
Tina M. Cheatham,
Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 04-19681 Filed 8-25-04; 11:32 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P