Proposed Collection; Comment Request

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A)

of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for

public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad

Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data

collections.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information

collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection

of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the

collection of information on respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Title and purpose of information collection: Request for Medicare

Payment; OMB 3220-0131 Under Section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement

Act, the RRB administers the Medicare program for persons covered by

the railroad retirement system. The collection obtains the information

needed by the MetraHealth Insurance Company, the Medicare carrier for

railroad retirement beneficiaries, to pay claims for payments under

Part B of the Medicare program. Authority for collecting the

information is prescribed in 42 CFR 424.32.

The RRB currently utilizes Forms G-740B, G-740S and HCFA 1500 to

secure the information necessary to pay Part B Medicare Claims. One

response is completed for each claim. Completion is required to obtain

a benefit.

The RRB proposes to expand the use of Form HCFA-1500, (in

accordance with Section 1848(G)(4) of the Social Security Act) which

will result in the obsolescence of Form G-740B. Non-burden impacting

changes to RRB Form G-740s including the addition of a burden statement

are also being proposed.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Annual Time

Form No.(s) responses (Min.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

G-740S............................................ 100 15

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: To request more information or to

obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/

or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312)

751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be

addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush

Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be

received within 60 days of this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 96-9106 Filed 4-11-96; 8:45 am]

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