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-231 (OMB #0938-New)]

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

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. 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. In particular, emergency approval is necessary to ensure

provider sponsored organizations (PSOs) are given an adequate

opportunity to provide the information necessary to receive a

Medicare+Choice contract, as provided by Section 1855(a) of the Social

Security Act (as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997) by the

beginning of the 1999 contract year. We currently estimate that it will

take ten months to: (1) Review and approve the waiver request, (2)

review and approve the PSO contract application, and (3) prepare HCFA's

information systems for individual PSOs prior to the 1999 contract

year. Since the collection of waiver information requested in this form

is the first step in this process, we need to begin receiving this

information by no later than April 1, 1998.

Therefore, HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this

collection by 03/27/98, with a 180-day approval period. Written

comments and recommendations will be accepted from the public if

received by the individuals designated below by 03/26/98. 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: Medicare+Choice (M+C) Provider

Sponsored Organization (PSO) Waiver Request Form.

Form Number: HCFA-R-231.

Use: The PSO waiver request form is for use by PSO's that do not

have a state risk-bearing entity licence and that wish to enter into an

M+C contract with HCFA to provide prepaid health care services to

eligible Medicare beneficiaries. HCFA will use the information

requested on this form to determine whether the applicant is eligible

for a waiver of the state licensure requirement for M+C organizations

as allowed under section 1855(a)(2) of the Social Security Act.

Frequency: One-time.

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

institutions, and Federal Government.

Annual Number of Respondents: 30.

Total Annual Responses: 30.

Total Annual Hours Requested: 300.

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, and HCFA form

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 referenced below by 03/26/98:

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 Burke

HCFA-R-231

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: March 4, 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. 98-6455 Filed 3-12-98; 8:45 am]

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