[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77007-77008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29985]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-15-0891]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted 
the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed 
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public 
and affected agencies.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) 
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; (b) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (d) 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 submission of responses; and 
(e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Written comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be 
directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written 
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    World Trade Center Health Program Enrollment, Appeals & 
Reimbursement (OMB No. 0920-0891, expires 12/31/2014)--[Revision]--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Title XXXIII of the PHS Act as amended establishes the WTC Health 
Program within HHS. The Program provides medical monitoring and 
treatment benefits to responders to the September 11, 2001, terrorist 
attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, 
Pennsylvania, and to survivors of the terrorist attacks in New York 
City. Title XXXIII requires that various Program provisions be 
established by regulation, including eligibility criteria for 
responders and volunteers at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, 
Pennsylvania.
    This submission will incorporate the World Trade Center Health 
Program Enrollment, Appeals & Reimbursement (0920-0891, expiration date 
12/31/2014), and the World Trade Center Enrollment & Appeals--Pentagon 
& Shanksville (0920-1001, expiration date 12/31/2016) into one complete 
package which will be called the World Trade Center Health Program 
Enrollment,

[[Page 77008]]

Appeals & Reimbursement. Upon OMB approval, 0920-1001 will be 
discontinued. The provisions in the interim final rule that contain 
data collection requirements are:
    Section 88.5 Application process-status as a WTC responder. This 
section informs applicants who believe they meet the eligibility 
criteria for a WTC responder how to apply for enrollment in the WTC 
Health Program, and describes the types of documentation the WTC 
Program Administrator will accept as proof of eligibility. We expect 
that to receive approximately 4,500 applications per year. The burden 
table reflects the annualized total burden broken into the four 
separate applicant groups: We estimate that 45 Fire Department of New 
York (FDNY) responders (1% of applicants); 2,475 general responders 
(55%); 630 Pentagon/Shanksville responders (14%); and 1,350 survivors 
(30%) will submit applications. The burden estimates for these three 
different forms are: FDNY = 23 hours; general responders = 1,238 hours; 
Pentagon/Shanksville responders = 315 hours; survivors = 405 hours.
    Section 88.11 Appeals regarding eligibility determination--
responders and survivors. This section establishes the process for 
appeals regarding eligibility determinations. Of the 4,500 applications 
we expect to receive per year, we expect that 10% will fail due to 
ineligibility. We further assume that 10% of those individuals, or 45 
respondents, will appeal the decision. The burden estimate is 23 hours.
    Section 88.15 Appeals regarding treatment. This section establishes 
the timeline and process to appeal the Administrator's determinations 
regarding treatment decisions. HHS estimates that Program participants 
will request certification for 20,000 health conditions each year. Of 
those 20,000, we expect that .01 percent (200) will be denied 
certification by the WTC Program Administrator. We further expect that 
such a denial will be appealed 30 percent of the time. Of the projected 
451,472 enrollees who will receive medical care, it is estimated that 
.05% percent (26) will appeal decisions of unnecessary treatment. We 
estimate that the appeals letter will take no more than 30 minutes.
    Section 88.16 Reimbursement for travel expenses. This section 
established the process for members of the Nationwide Provider Network 
(NPN) who travel more than 250 miles to a nationwide network provider 
for medically necessary treatment may be provided necessary and 
reasonable transportation and other expenses. These individuals may 
submit a travel refund request form, which should take respondents 10 
minutes. HHS expects no more than 10 claims per year.
    The reporting and record keeping requirements contained in these 
regulations are used by NIOSH to carry out its responsibilities related 
to the implementation of the WTC Health Program as required by law. The 
burdens imposed have been reduced to the absolute minimum considered 
necessary to permit NIOSH to carry out the purpose of the legislation, 
i.e., to implement the WTC Health Program. This emergency data 
collection is warranted because it is essential that individuals who 
wish to be enrolled, apply to the WTC Health Program, appeal a 
determination made by the WTC Program Administrator, or submit a claim 
for reimbursement have the opportunity to do so as soon as the 
eligibility criteria are established with the publication of this 
interim final rule. The total annualized burden is 2,319. There are no 
costs to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of        Number        burden per
          Type of respondent                    Form name           respondents    responses per   response  (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FDNY Responder........................  World Trade Center                    45               1           30/60
                                         Health Program FDNY
                                         Responder Eligibility
                                         Application.
General Responder.....................  World Trade Center                 2,475               1           30/60
                                         Health Program
                                         Responder Eligibility
                                         Application (Other than
                                         FDNY).
Pentagon/Shanksville Responder........  World Trade Center                   630               1           30/60
                                         Health Program Pentagon/
                                         Shanksville Responder.
WTC Survivor..........................  World Trade Center                 1,350               1           30/60
                                         Health Program Survivor
                                         Eligibility Application.
Responder (FDNY and General Responder)/ Denial Letter and Appeal              45               1           30/60
 Survivor.                               Notification_Eligibilit
                                         y.
Responder (FDNY and General Responder)/ Denial Letter and Appeal              60               1           30/60
 Survivor.                               Notification_Health
                                         Conditions.
Responder (FDNY and General Responder)/ Denial Letter and Appeal              26               1           30/60
 Survivor.                               Notification_Treatment.
Responder (FDNY and General Responder)/ WTC Health Program                    10               1          10/60.
 Survivor.                               Medical Travel Refund
                                         Request.
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Leroy A. Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-29985 Filed 12-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P