Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY:

Health Care Financing Administration, DHHS.

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 Balance Budget Act of 1997. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures because to do so would result in public harm. Public harm would result because there would be a delay in being able to furnish materials to Medicare beneficiaries that would assist them in making informed health care choices concerning fee-for-services benefits and managed care benefits. We need to have the results of a survey ready to be included in the Medicare and You Handbook by October 1, 2000 and therefore must be able to begin the survey in July.

HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by June 30, 2000, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the individuals designated below by June 23, 2000. 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 Consumer Assessment Survey of Health Plan Survey (CAHPS)—Fee for Service; HCFA Form Number: HCFA-10000 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW); Use: Under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, HCFA is required to provide general and plan comparative information to beneficiaries that will help them make more informed health plan choices. A CAHPS fee for service survey is needed to provide information comparable to those data collected from the CAHPS managed care survey; Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 168,000; Total Annual Responses: 134,400; Total Annual Burden Hours: 44,800.

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, 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 Paperwork@hcfa.gov, 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 June 23, 2000:

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) 786-0262 Attn: Julie Brown HCFA-10000

 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.