Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-0253]

Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements

Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration.

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

[[Page 45830]]

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 call-

back survey of callers to the Medicare+Choice toll-free line. Through

this survey, a sample of callers to the Medicare+Choice toll-free line

will be called back to obtain information about whether they were

satisfied with the interaction with the customer service

representative, whether additional calls to other sources were

necessary to get the information or resolve the problem that prompted

the call, and whether they would call this number again in the future.

We plan to tally the number and types of problems that are identified

during these call backs to identify those problems that appear to be

systematic. We will make any necessary changes in the operations of the

phone centers as well as in the operator training to avoid such

problems in the future.

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: Call-Back Survey of Callers to the

Medicare+Choice Toll-free Line.

Form Number: HCFA-R-253 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).

Use: The primary purpose of the call-back survey is to obtain

information from callers about their satisfaction with the

Medicare+Choice toll-free line. This information will be used to

identify problems and make recommendations for ways of improving the

service provided through the Medicare+Choice toll-free line.

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Number of Respondents: 1,050.

Total Annual Responses: 1,050.

Total Annual Hours Requested: 175 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-253 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, Office of Information Services,

Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.

[FR Doc. 98-22861 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P