Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-79]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

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.

Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently

approved collection;

Title of Information Collection: Payment Adjustment for Sole

Community Hospitals and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 412.92;

Form No.: HCFA-R-79 (OMB# 0938-0477);

Use: Hospitals designated as ``Sole Community Hospitals'' that

experience a five percent decrease in discharges in one cost reporting

period, due to unusual circumstances, beyond its control, may request

an adjustment to its Medicare payment amount;

Frequency: On occasion;

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

for-profit, and State, Local or Tribal Government;

Number of Respondents: 40;

Total Annual Responses: 40;

Total Annual Hours: 160.

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, OMB number, and

HCFA document identifier, to P[email protected], or call the Reports

Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326. Written comments and

recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed

within 60 days of this notice directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance

Officer designated at the following address: HCFA, 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.

Dated: December 24, 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. 99-285 Filed 1-6-99; 8:45 am]

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