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-0276]

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 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 is necessary to ensure compliance with the Balanced

Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33). We cannot reasonably comply with

the normal clearance procedures because Medicare & You 2000 (HCFA-R-

0276), is mandated to send information to Medicare beneficiaries at

least 15 days before a required November coordinated election period.

Therefore, Medicare & You 2000 must be mailed no later than October 15

to ensure receipt. However, due to the volume (35,000,000) of this

nationwide mailing, and for the books to be ready for mail by late

September, they must be at the printers in June 1999. Waiting for the

regular clearance process would not allow for the feedback cards to be

printed in conjunction with Medicare & You 2000.

HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection

within 15 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 (14) 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 Request: New collection.

Title of Information Collection: Medicare & You 2000 Feedback

Postcard.

HCFA Form Number: Enclosure to HCFA-R-0276 (OMB approval #: 0938-

NEW).

Use: The purpose of this collection is post-distribution testing.

This feedback postcard will be printed with Medicare & You 2000. This

is the primary vehicle for presenting Medicare information to

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beneficiaries. Each household with up to 4 Medicare beneficiaries will

receive one book. Households with over 4 beneficiaries will have one

book sent to each beneficiary. (It is assumed these may be nursing

homes/care facilities.) The beneficiaries have the option of completing

the postcard, which will provide HCFA with valuable information that

will assist in improving future versions of the publication.

Frequency: Annual.

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

profit, Not-for-profit institutions, Federal Government, State, Local

or Tribal Gov.

Number of Respondents: 35,000,000 cards to be mailed with Medicare

& You 2000.

Total Annual Responses: Estimated 5% (1,750,000).

Total Annual Burden Hours: 145,834.

We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of

these information collections. A notice will be published in the

Federal Register when approval is obtained.

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, within (14) working days:

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) 786-1415, Attn: Louis Blank HCFA-R-0276

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: April 26, 1999.

John P. Burke III,

HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services,

Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.

[FR Doc. 99-11151 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P