2024-03438. Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Health Insurance Claim Form (OWCP-1500)

AGENCY:

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Labor.

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request 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, OWCP is soliciting comments on the information collection for Health Claim Insurance Form, OWCP–1500.

DATES:

All comments must be received on or before April 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late, untimely filed comments will not be considered.

Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the following way:

• Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit the DOL–OWCP, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S3524, Washington, DC 20210.

• OWCP will post your comments as well as any attachments, except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

• Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential business information.
• If your comment includes confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anjanette Suggs, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, [e-mail] (email); (202) 354–9660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is the agency responsible for administration of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), 5 U.S.C. 8101—administered by the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation Program; the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901—administered by the Division of Coal Miner Workers' Compensation Program; and the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA), 42 U.S.C. 7384 administered by the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Programs. All three of these statutes require that OWCP pay for medical treatment of beneficiaries; BLBA also requires that OWCP pay for medical examinations and related diagnostic services to determine eligibility for benefits under that statute. In order to determine whether billed amounts are appropriate, OWCP needs to identify the patient, the injury or illness that was treated or diagnosed, the specific services that were rendered and their relationship to the work-related injury or illness. The regulations implementing these statutes require the use of Form OWCP–1500 for medical bills submitted by certain physicians and other providers (20 CFR 10.801, 20 CFR 725.704, 30.701, 725.405, 725.406(e), 725.701 and 725.715).

II. Desired Focus of Comments

OWCP is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection related to the Health Insurance Claim Form (OWCP–1500).

OWCP is particularly interested in comments that:

• Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information has practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of OWCP's estimate of the burden related to the information collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
• Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Minimize the burden of the information collection 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 submission of responses.

Background documents related to this information collection request are available at https://regulations.gov and at DOL–OWCP located at 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

This information collection request concerns the Health Insurance Claim Form, OWCP–1500. OWCP has updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this information collection request from the previous information collection request.

Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved collection.

Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

OMB Number: 1240–0044.

Affected Public: Private Sector.

Number of Respondents: 57,099.

Frequency: On Occasion.

Number of Responses: 3,381,232.

Annual Burden Hours: 394,477.

Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $0.

OWCP Form: OWCP Form OWCP–1500, Health Insurance Claim Form.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of public record and will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

Anjanette Suggs,

Certifying Officer.