[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46910-46911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11813]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Authorization Request Form/Certification/
Letter of Medical Necessity

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)-sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency 
receives on or before July 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Neary by telephone at 202-
693-6312, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The form, Authorization Request Form and 
Certification/Letter of Medical Necessity Certification/Letter of 
Medical Necessity for Opioid Medications (CA-27), requires an injured 
worker's treating physician to answer a number of questions about the 
prescribed opioids and certify that they are medically necessary to 
treat the work-related injury. The responses to the questions on the 
form is intended to ensure that treating physicians have considered 
non-opioid drug alternatives, and are only prescribing the most cost 
effective and medically necessary drugs. The form will also permit OWCP 
to more easily track the volume, type, and characteristics of opioids 
authorized by the FECA program. The form will serve as a means for 
injured workers to continue receiving opioids drugs only where 
medically necessary and simultaneously give OWCP greater oversight in 
monitoring their appropriate use and gather additional data about their 
use. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the 
related notice published in the Federal Register on January 26, 2024 
(89 FR 5263).
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) if the information will be processed and used in a timely 
manner; (3) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (4) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (5) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid 
OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions 
of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to 
comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

[[Page 46911]]

    DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than 
three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information 
collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive 
a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.
    Agency: DOL-OWCP.
    Title of Collection: Authorization Request Form/Certification/
Letter of Medical Necessity.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0055.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 78.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 490.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 245 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Michelle Neary,
Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2024-11813 Filed 5-29-24; 8:45 am]
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