[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 9098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1603]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[No. DoD-2006-HAM-0016]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health 
Affairs, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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    In accordance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Health Affairs announces the proposed revision of a public information 
collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. 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 information 
collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the information collection on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received April 24, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and/or 
RIN number and title, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 
Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this 
Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other 
submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions 
available for public viewing on the Internet at http://regulations.gov 
as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers 
or contact information.

For Further Information Contact: To request information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and 
associated collection instruments, please write to the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, TMA, HPA&E, Attn: 
Richard R. Bannick, Ph.D., 5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810, Falls Church, 
Virginia 22041-3206.
    Title and OMB Number: Viability of TRICARE Standard Survey; OMB 
Control Number 0720-0031.
    Needs and Uses: As mandated by Congress, confidential surveys of 
civilian physicians will be completed in TRICARE market areas within 
the United States to determine how many accept new TRICARE Standard 
patients in each market area. At least 20 TRICARE market areas in the 
United States will be conducted each fiscal year until all TRICARE 
market areas in the United States have been surveyed.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Annual Burden Hours: 3,333.
    Number of Respondents: 40,000.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 5 minutes.
    Frequency: On occasion.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

    The Health Program Analysis and Evaluation Directorate (HPA&E) 
under the authority of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense 
(Health Affairs)/TRICARE Management Activity will undertake an 
evaluation of the DoD's TRICARE Standard healthcare option. HPA&E will 
collect and analyze data that are necessary to meet the requirements 
outlined in Section 723 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
FY2004.
    Activities include the collection and analyses of data obtained 
confidentially from civilian physicians (M.D.s & D.O.s) within U.S. 
TRICARE market areas. Specifically, Mail surveys with telephone follow-
up 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 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 that have evidence of access-to-care problems 
under TRICARE Standard. Information will be collected by mail or 
telephonically to determine the number of healthcare providers that 
currently accept new Medicare patients or accept new MHS beneficiaries 
as patients under TRICARE Standard in each market area. Analyses will 
support all legislative requirements.

    Dated: February 10, 2006.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 06-1603 Filed 2-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M