Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension collection of the following information collection: Health Insurance Claim Form (OWCP-1500). Copies of the proposed information collection requests can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this Notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before August 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-0339 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 693-1451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Health Insurance Claim Form (OWCP-1500)

I. Background

The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) (5 U.S.C. 8101, et seq.) and the Federal Black Lung Benefits Act (FBLBA) (30 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.). These Acts provide for payment of medical expenses necessitated by a work-related injury or disease to eligible injured workers. The OWCP-1500 is a form used by bill payment staff to adjudicate requests for reimbursement of medical services provided by medical professionals other than hospitals, pharmacies, and certain other providers.

II. Review Focus

The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

• evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
• evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
• enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

The Department of Labor seeks the extension of approval to collect this information in order to carry out its responsibility to provide payment for certain covered medical services to injured employees who are covered under the FECA and the FBLBA.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: Health Insurance Claim Form.

OMB Number: 1215-0055.

Agency Number: OWCP-1500.

Affected Public: Individuals or households, Businesses or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government, State, Local or Tribal Government.

Total Respondents: 1,267,049.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 1,902,146.

Average Time per Response: 7 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 188,994.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $47,242.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.