[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77466-77467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30467]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

[Document Identifier: HHS-OS-21138-60-D]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of 
Health and Human Services, announces plans to submit an Information 
Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). The ICR is for extending the use of the approved 
information collection assigned OMB control number 0945-0006, which 
expires on March 31, 2014. Prior to submitting that ICR to OMB, OS 
seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or 
any other aspect of the ICR.

DATES: Comments on the ICR must be received on or before February 21, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to 
[email protected] or by calling (202) 690-6162.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information Collection Clearance 
staff, [email protected] or (202) 690-6162.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the document identifier HHS-OS-21138-60D 
for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: The Civil Rights Information 
Request Form.
    OMB No.: 0945-0006.
    Abstract: This request for OMB approval of The Civil Rights 
Information Request Form is for a 3 year extension. The Civil Rights 
Information Request

[[Page 77467]]

Form is designed to collect data from health care providers who have 
requested certification to participate in the Medicare Part A program. 
As part of the Medicare certification process, health care facilities 
must receive a civil rights clearance from the Office for Civil Rights 
(OCR). OCR uses the information to determine compliance with civil 
rights statutes and regulations. The civil rights information is 
requested only when a health care provider applies for Medicare Part A 
certification; it is not necessary on a regular yearly basis. Entities 
that are affected by the Civil Rights Information Request Form are: 
health care providers applying for Medicare certification, and 
individuals who, as a result of civil rights clearances, should be 
granted equal access to quality health care, regardless of race, color, 
national origin, disability, age and sex.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: To ensure adherence to 
the statutory requirements, compliance reviews are requested when 
health care providers, such as hospitals, nursing homes and home health 
agencies, apply to participate in the Medicare Part A program. When a 
provider seeks Medicare certification, OCR conducts a compliance review 
to determine whether the provider will be able to comply with Title VI, 
Section 504, and the Age Discrimination Act. Such reviews are an 
effective means of working with health care providers because potential 
civil rights concerns can be identified prior to receipt of Federal 
financial assistance. The technical assistance available to recipients 
on the OCR Web site helps providers take steps to comply with their 
obligations to refrain from prohibited discrimination.
    Likely Respondents: Healthcare providers.
    Burden Statement: In conducting a complaint investigation or 
compliance review of a health care or social service provider, OCR 
determines whether a compliance review was performed by OCR. In many 
instances, the procedure decreases the burden on the recipient since 
the compliance review and corrective actions, as necessary, may reduce 
or eliminate the need for a formal investigation involving interviews, 
examination of records, collection and submission of data associated 
with issues already addressed through a recent compliance review 
certification process. To further reduce provider burden in completing 
the compliance review process, OCR has developed several Corporate 
Agreements with health care corporations. These Agreements are designed 
to expedite the civil rights compliance review process by implementing 
a practice whereby all of a corporation's national policies and 
procedures are reviewed and approved at OCR's headquarters' level. 
Subsequent to such approval, only local facility-specific information 
is reviewed by OCR for civil rights compliance during the review 
process.

                                    Total Estimated Annualized Burden--Hours
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                                                                  Number of      Average burden
                  Form name                      Number of      responses per     per response     Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent       (in hours)         hours
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The Civil Rights Information Request Form...            2900                1                8           23,200
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    OS specifically requests comments on (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 minimize the information 
collection burden.

Darius Taylor,
Deputy, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-30467 Filed 12-20-13; 8:45 am]
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