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-229]

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 (PRA), 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. We are requesting emergency clearance so that we can meet

the requirements under the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) (section

4421(j)(2)(A)) which requires implementation of a prospective payment

system with case mix groups for inpatient rehabilitation hospitals by

October 1, 2000.

HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by

03/10/98, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and

recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the

individuals designated below by 03/09/98. 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: Development of an Assessment

System for Post Acute Care.

Form Number: HCFA-R-229 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).

Use: The Minimum Data Set-Post Acute Care (MDS-PAC) will be used to

establish patient case mix groups including classes of patients in the

rehabilitation facility for the payment system. It will also provide

data and seek input from the rehabilitation industry for HCFA to

formulate policy and promulgate regulations.

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Business or other for-

profit, Not-for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 10,465.

Total Annual Responses: 10,465.

Total Annual Hours Requested: 23,301.

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 03/09/98:

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-229,

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 13, 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. 98-4866 Filed 2-25-98; 8:45 am]

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