[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 148 (Thursday, August 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36159-36161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16320]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Proposed Revision to Existing Approved Collection; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Division of Federal Employees' Compensation, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs, Department of Labor.

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). 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

[[Page 36160]]

collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Claim for 
Compensation (CA-7); Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment 
(CA-16); Duty Status Report (CA-17); Attending Physician's Report (CA-
20); Request for the Services of an Attendant (CA-1090); Referral to a 
Medical Specialist (CA-1305); OWCP Requirements for Audiological 
Examination (CA-1087); Referral for a Complete Audiologic and Otologic 
Examination (CA-1331); Outline for Audiologic Examination (CA-1332); 
Work Capacity Evaluation, Psychiatric/Psychological Conditions (OWCP-
5a); Work Capacity Evaluation, Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Conditions 
(OWCP-5b); and Work Capacity Evaluation, Musculoskeletal Conditions 
(OWCP-5c). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section 
of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before October 2, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by mail, delivery service, or by 
hand to Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Room S-3323, Washington, DC 20210; by fax to (202) 354-9647; 
or by Email to [email protected]. Please use only one method of 
transmission for comments (mail/delivery, fax, or Email). Please note 
that comments submitted after the comment period will not be 
considered.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Background: The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) 
administers the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), 5 U.S.C. 
8101 et seq. The statute provides for the payment of benefits for wage 
loss and/or for permanent impairment to a scheduled member, arising out 
of a work related injury or disease. The Act outlines the elements of 
pay which are to be included in an individual's pay rate, and sets 
forth various other criteria for determining eligibility to and the 
amount of benefits, including: augmentation of basic compensation for 
individuals with qualifying dependents; a requirement to report any 
earnings during a period that compensation is claimed; a prohibition 
against concurrent receipt of FECA benefits and benefits from OPM or 
certain VA benefits; a mandate that money collected from a liable third 
party found responsible for the injury for which compensation has been 
paid is applied to benefits paid or payable. This information 
collection is currently approved for use through January 31, 2018. This 
ICR has been classified as a revision, because of a change to the CA-
16. As DFEC is focusing more on program integrity issues, in particular 
medical billing, and to strengthen efforts to reduce potential fraud 
and abuse, this form is intimately tied to those efforts and DFEC would 
like to incorporate recent and upcoming policy changes (e.g., new 
guidance/forms for compound and opioid medications--OMB 1240-0055). The 
proposed revisions provide more clarification regarding who may be 
authorized to initiate the CA-16 and who is authorized to provide 
medical treatment, to include qualifications and definitions of these 
authorization officials. Further clarification is provided regarding 
non-authorization for compound medication and the requirements to be 
enrolled with our Medical Bill Processing Contractor to receive 
payments for services rendered. Where revisions were made, Instructions 
were expanded to provide explanation.
    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 a revision in 
order to carry out its statutory responsibility to compensate injured 
employees under the provisions of the Act.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Title: FECA medical Reports, Claim for Compensation.
    OMB Number: 1240-0046.
    Agency Number: CA-7; CA-16; CA-17; CA-20; CA-1090; CA-1305; CA-
1087; CA-1331; CA-1332; OWCP-5a; OWCP-5b; and OWCP-5c.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Federal Government previously approved.
    Total Respondents: 282,353.

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                                                                      Time to        Number of
                              Form                                complete (min)     responses     Hours burden
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CA-7............................................................              13             500             120
CA-16...........................................................               5          29,519           2,460
CA-17...........................................................               5         182,793          15,233
CA-20...........................................................               5          56,394           4,700
CA-1090.........................................................              10             234              39
CA-1305.........................................................              20             136              45
CA-1331/CA-1087*................................................               5           1,062              89
CA-1332.........................................................              30              30               6
OWCP-5's........................................................              15          11,651           2,913
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Totals......................................................  ..............         282,353          25,605
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* Responses and hours associated with Form CA-1087 are included in the estimates for the Form CA-1331. The Form
  CA-1087 is attached to the Form CA-1331.


[[Page 36161]]

    Total Annual Responses: 232,353.
    Average Time per Response: 5 minutes-30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 25,605.
    Frequency: As Needed.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $110,118.
    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: July 14, 2017.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2017-16320 Filed 8-2-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P