# Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A98-22860 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** August 27, 1998 - **Citation:** 63 FR 45828 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Care Financing Administration [Document Identifier: HCFA-R-254] Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration. [[Page 45829]] 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. We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following requirements for emergency review. Due to an unanticipated event and the fact that this collection of this information is needed before the expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR, Part 1320, we are requesting an emergency review. With the creation of the Medicare+Choice program, as required by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33), Medicare beneficiaries' health care options were expanded to include coordinated care plans such as Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Provider-sponsored Organizations, as well as Private Fee-for-Service Plans and Medical Savings Accounts. While the new options bring more flexibility for health care decisions for people with Medicare, they also necessitate the need for a carefully planned, extensive education campaign to assure that Medicare beneficiaries have understanding of the new health plan choices offered by Medicare and how to use HCFA-developed information tools that will be available through an annual publication, a toll-free number and the World Wide Web. The purpose of this submission is to request approval of a baseline and follow-up survey of beneficiaries in six communities where we are conducting case studies to examine how all of our activities related to the education campaign are working. The baseline survey will be conducted in September and the follow-up survey will be done this winter after all of the material related to the education campaign for this year has been mailed to beneficiaries. Examples of the types of questions that will be asked of beneficiaries include their satisfaction with the availability and usefulness of Medicare information when they need it, where they obtain information for particular Medicare-related decisions, their use of the Handbook and other information sources, their awareness of some of the major messages HCFA is trying to convey in the campaign and the demographics of the respondents. HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection within 6 working days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the individuals designated below by 5 working days of the publication of this notice. During this 180-day period, we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing the initiation of an extensive 60- day agency review and public comment period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB review and an extension of this emergency approval. Type of Information Request: New Collection. Title of Information Collection: National Medicare Education Program Community Survey of Medicare Beneficiaries. Form Number: HCFA-R-254 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW). Use: The primary purpose of the baseline and follow-up survey is to collect information on beneficiary satisfaction with the availability and usefulness of Medicare information when they need it, where beneficiaries obtain information for particular Medicare-related decisions, beneficiary use of the Handbook and other information sources, and their awareness of the major messages HCFA is trying to convey in the campaign. This information will be used in conjunction with other information collected in these six communities through focus groups and interviews to identify problems and make recommendations for ways of improving HCFA's education campaign in future years. Frequency: On occasion. Affected Public: Individuals or Households. Number of Respondents: 4,800. Total Annual Responses: 4,800. Total Annual Hours Requested: 1,200 hours. 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. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden or any other aspect of these collections of information requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information collection and record keeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed to the designees referenced below within 5 working days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register: Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax Number: (410) 786-0262 Attn: John Rudolph HCFA-R-254 and, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167 Attn: Allison Herron Eydt, HCFA Desk Officer. Dated: August 20, 1998. John Parmigiani, Acting HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards. [FR Doc. 98-22860 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4120-03-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A98-22860. Public record. Not legal advice.