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

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 103 (Friday, May 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 29050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13651]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-0273]


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 that HCFA can determine as soon 
as possible that Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) participating 
or wishing to participate in the Medicare program meet all applicable 
Federal and State requirements. We cannot reasonably comply with the 
normal clearance procedures because potential public harm could occur 
because ineligible CMHCs may fraudulently or abusively provide care to 
Medicare beneficiaries and subsequently bill the Medicare program 
diverting Medicare Trust Fund resources from legitimate Medicare 
claims.
    The CMHC Site Visit Assessment Tool will allow HCFA to 
systematically and promptly collect information from CMHCs to verify 
that the CMHCs meet all applicable Federal and State requirements 
rendering them eligible as Medicare providers. This tool is critical in 
determining which CMHCs are operating as specified by section 1861(ff) 
of the Social Security Act and taking action to ensure that all others 
comply or are no longer serving Medicare beneficiaries and billing the 
Medicare program.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
June 8, 1999, 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 7, 1999. 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: Community Mental Health Center 
Site Visit Assessment Tool and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 410.2
    HCFA Form Number: HCFA-R-273 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).
    Use: This information collection tool is essential for the Health 
Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to ensure that existing Community 
Mental Health Centers (CMHC), as well as CMHC applicants to the 
Medicare program are incompliance with Medicare provider requirements, 
as well as all applicable Federal and State requirements. The 
collection tool will be completed and used by HCFA and or its 
contractors to collect patient records, other CMHC operational 
information, and to verify CMHC compliance as determined by the HCFA 
regional office. CMHCs will be required to sign the completed form, 
provide medical records, and other operational information to be copied 
by the HCFA contractor representative on-site at the CMHC during the 
site visit.
    Frequency: Upon initial application or reenrollment into the 
Medicare program.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, as well as not-for-
profit institution and State, Local or Tribal Governments.
    Number of Respondents: 850.
    Total Annual Responses: 850.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 3400.
    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 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 7, 1999:

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-273

    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: May 19, 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. 99-13651 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P