Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 42 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10478-10479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5350]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-131]


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: Information Collection 
Requirements in 42 CFR, Section 411.408;
    Form No.: HCFA-R-131 (OMB# 0938-0566);
    Use: Section 9332 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, 
requires physicians ``who do not accept payment on an assignment-
related basis'' to refund to patients any amounts they collect for 
services denied under section 1862(a)(1) of the Social Security Act, as 
``not reasonable and necessary for the treatment of illness or injury 
or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member.'' Refunds are 
not required in either of two circumstances. First, a refund is not 
required if the physician informs the

[[Page 10479]]

beneficiary, prior to furnishing the service, that Medicare is unlikely 
to pay for the service and the beneficiary, after being so informed, 
agrees to pay out of his or her pocket. Second, a refund is not 
required if the physician did not know, and could not reasonably have 
been expected to know, that Medicare would not pay for the service. In 
those cases, the beneficiary is liable for the service.;
    Frequency: On occasion;
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households;
    Number of Respondents: 237,322;
    Total Annual Responses: 925,904;
    Total Annual Hours: 115,738.
    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. 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: February 24, 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. 99-5350 Filed 3-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P