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-263]

Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements

Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

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.

We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the Information

collections 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. We are requesting an emergency

review because we have determined that the information collection

instrument in question is necessary for our contractor and

subcontractor to carry out site visits of suppliers of durable medical

equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies who wish to bill the

Medicare program. These site visits are being carried out in accordance

with an announcement by the President on January 24, 1998, that all

such suppliers would receive site visits. The visits commenced on June

1, 1998, and the instrument was developed after we had gained some

experience with the visits. We are requesting emergency clearance to

maximize the benefits to be gained from this effort and to avoid

discontinuity in this important fraud prevention mechanism.

HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection

within eleven working days, with a 180-day approval period. Written

comments and recommendations will be accepted from the public if

received by the individuals designated below within ten working days.

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 Collection Request: New Collection.

Title of Information Collection: On-Site Inspection for Durable

Medical Equipment (DME). Supplier Location and Supporting Regulations

in 42 CFR 424.57.

Form No.: HCFA-R-263 (OMB# 0938-NEW).

Use: To identify and implement measures to prevent fraud and abuse

in the Medicare program. Controlling the entry of suppliers of durable

medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies (DMEPOS) to

Medicare has been identified as one of the most effective ways to

prevent fraud and abuse. To meet this challenge, HCFA is moving forward

with a plan to improve the quality of the process for enrolling and

reenrolling DMEPOS suppliers into the Medicare program by enhancing

procedures for verifying supplier information collected on the Form

HCFA 855S (DMEPOS Supplier Enrollment Application, OMB Approval No.

0938-0685). This form will be used to complete information on DMEPOS

suppliers' compliance with regulations found in 42 CFR 424.57.

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit

institutions, and State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 40,000.

Total Annual Responses: 40,000.

Total Annual Hours: 20,000.

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 request, including your address, 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 recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed

to the designees

[[Page 58059]]

referenced below, within ten working days:

Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services,

Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards,

Attention: Dawn Willinghan, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard,

Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

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: October 22, 1998.

John P. Burke III,

HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services,

Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.

[FR Doc. 98-29024 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P