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-228]

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 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 the collection of this information is needed before the

expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR,

Part 1320. This collection is necessary to ensure compliance with

section 1854 of the Balanced Budget Act. Under Part C of the Social

Security Act, a Medicare+Choice (M+C) organization is required to

submit an Adjusted Community Rate (ACR) proposal prior to 05/01/98,

which is used by M+C organizations to price its benefit packages.

Without emergency approval entities interested in participating in the

M+C program will not be afforded enough time to submit the required

application prior to the 05/01/98 deadline. As a result, public harm is

likely to result because eligible individuals may not receive the M+C

health insurance options stipulated by the BBA.

HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by

02/20/98, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and

recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the

individuals designated below by 02/19/98. 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: Managed Care Adjusted Community

Rate (ACR) Proposal.

Form Number: HCFA-R-228 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).

Use: This collection effort will be used to price the benefit

package sold to Medicare beneficiaries who will be enrolled in M+C.

Organizations submitting the Managed Care Adjusted Community Rate

Proposal form would include all M+C organizations plus any organization

intending to contract with HCFA as a M+C organization. This would

include any eligible organizations with a managed care risk contract,

as defined in 42 CFR Sec. 417.401 of federal regulations, in effect on

January 1, 1998 with intentions of offering a M+C plan starting January

1, 1999. These current Medicare managed care risk contractors will be

required to submit this form no later than May 1, 1998 for the calendar

year 1999.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit, not-for-profit

institutions.

Number of Respondents: 350.

Total Annual Responses: 350.

Total Annual Hours Requested: 35,000.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms

for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, E-mail your

request, including your address, phone number, and HCFA form number(s)

referenced above, 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 referenced below, by 02/19/98:

Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services,

Information Technology Investment Management Group, Division of HCFA

Enterprise Standards, Room C2-26-17, 7500 Security Boulevard,

Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Fax Number: (410) 786-1415, Attn: John

Rudolph HCFA-R-228

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: February 5, 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. 98-3585 Filed 2-11-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P