Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-R-79]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB

Review; Comment Request

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, has

submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following

proposal for the collection of information. Interested persons are

invited to send comments regarding the 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 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 and phone number, 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 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB Desk Officer

designated at the following address: OMB Human Resources and Housing

Branch, Attention: Allison Eydt, New Executive Office Building, Room

10235, Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: March 8, 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. 99-7293 Filed 3-24-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P