Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-416, HCFA-855, and HCFA-R-227]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, HHS.

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, is

publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public

comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this

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.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently

approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Annual Early and

Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (EPSDT)

Participation Report and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 441.60; Form

No.: HCFA-416 (OMB# 0938-0354); Use: States are required to submit an

annual report on the provision of EPSDT services to HCFA pursuant to

section 1902(a)(43) of the Social Security Act. These reports provide

HCFA with data necessary to assess the effectiveness of State EPSDT

programs. It is also helpful in developing trend patterns, national

projections, responding to inquiries, and determining a State's results

in achieving its participation goal; Frequency: Annually; Affected

Public: State, Local or Tribal Government; Number of Respondents: 56;

Total Annual Responses: 56; Total Annual Hours: 1,568.

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently

approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare and

Other Federal Health Care Programs Provider/Supplier Enrollment

Application; Form No.: HCFA-855 (OMB# 0938-0685); Use: This information

is needed to enroll providers and suppliers into the Medicare program

by identifying them, pricing and paying their claims, and verifying

their qualifications and eligibility to participate in Medicare;

Frequency: Initial Enrollment/Recertification; Affected Public:

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

institutions, and Federal Government; Number of Respondents: 225,000;

Total Annual Responses: 225,000; Total Annual Hours: 435,000.

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently

approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Research and

Analytic Support for Implementing Peformance Measurement in Medicare

Fee for Service; Form No.: HCFA-R-227 (OMB# 0938-0718); Use: As

required by the Balanced Budget Act (BBA), Section 1851(d), the Health

Care Financing Administration (HCFA) needs to develop comparable

performance measures for Fee For Service (FFS) Medicare. This project

will enable HCFA to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of FFS

services purchased. HCFA may potentially disseminate this information

to Medicare beneficiaries so that they may make informed health care

choices; Frequency: Biennially; Affected Public: Individuals or

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

Farms, Federal Government, and State, Local or Tribal Government;

Number of Respondents: 6,670; Total Annual Responses: 6,670; Total

Annual Hours: 3,335.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms

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

[[Page 19503]]

request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and HCFA

document identifier, 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 60 days of this notice directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance

Officer designated at the following address: HCFA, Office of

Information Services, Information Technology Investment Management

Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards, Attention: Louis Blank,

Room C2-26-17, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

Dated: April 10, 1998.

John P. Burke III,

HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services,

Information Technology Investment Management Group, Division of HCFA

Enterprise Standards.

[FR Doc. 98-10385 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P