Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-5]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB

Review; Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Health Care Financing

Administration (HCFA), Department of Health and Human Services, has

submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following

proposal for the collection of information. Interested persons are

invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other

aspect of this collection of information, including any of the

following subjects: (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.

Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently

approved collection;

Title of Information Collection: Physician Certifications/

Recertifications in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) Manual

Instructions and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 424.20;

Form No.: HCFA-R-5 (OMB# 0938-0454);

Use: The Medicare program requires as a condition for Medicare Part

A payment for post-hospital skilled nursing facility (SNF) services,

that a physician must certify and periodically recertify that a

beneficiary requires an SNF level of care. The physician certification

and recertification is intended to ensure that the beneficiary's need

for services has been established and then reviewed and updated at

appropriate intervals. The documentation is a condition for Medicare

Part A payment for post-hospital SNF care.

Frequency: On occasion;

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government, Individuals or

Households, Business or other for-profit, and Not-for-profit

institutions;

Number of Respondents: 2,038,248;

Total Annual Responses: 947,816;

Total Annual Hours: 417,239.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement for the proposed

paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's Web Site Address

at http://www.hcfa.gov/regs/prdact95.htm, or E-mail your request,

including your address and phone number, to P[email protected], or call

the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326. Written comments and

recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed

within 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB Desk Officer

designated at the following address: OMB Human Resources and Housing

Branch, Attention: Allison Eydt, New Executive Office Building, Room

10235, Washington, D.C. 20503.

Dated: December 22, 1999.

John Parmigiani,

Manager, HCFA, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards

Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.

[FR Doc. 00-842 Filed 1-12-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P