[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 25860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6600]


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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: Health Insurance Claim 
Form (OWCP-1500). 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 July 3, 2006.

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, E-mail [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or E-
mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) 
is the agency responsible for administration of 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. All three of these statutes require that OWCP pay 
for medical treatment of beneficiaries; BLBA also requires that OWCP 
pay for medical examinations and related diagnostic services to 
determine eligibility for benefits under that statute. In order to 
determine whether billed amounts are appropriate, OWCP needs to 
identify the patient, the injury or illness that was treated or 
diagnosed, the specific services that are rendered and their 
relationship to the work-related injury or illness. The regulations 
implementing these statutes require the use of Form OWCP-1500 for 
medical bills submitted by certain physicians and other providers (20 
CFR 10.801, 30.701, 725.405, 725.406, 725.701 and 725.704). The OWCP-
1500 is used by OWCP and contractor bill payment staff to process bills 
for medical services provided by medical professionals other than 
medical services provided by hospitals, pharmacies, and certain other 
providers. This information collection is currently approved for use 
through November 30, 2006.
    II. Review Focus: The Department of Labor is particularly 
interested in comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     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;
     Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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 its 
responsibility to provide payment for certain covered medical services 
to injured employees who are covered under FECA, BLBA and EEOICPA.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Health Insurance Claim Form.
    OMB Number: 1215-0055.
    Agency Number: OWCP-1500.
    Affected Public: Individual or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Total Respondents: 735,000.
    Total Responses: 2,940,000.
    Time per Response: 7 minutes.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 343,574.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    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: April 27, 2006.
Ruben L. Wiley,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-6600 Filed 5-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P