[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 4788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2687]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
National Practitioner Data Bank: Change in User Fee
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is announcing a discount in the
fee charged to entities authorized to request information from the
National Practitioner Data Bank (Data Bank) for queries which meet all
requirements for fully automated processing.
The current fee structure was announced in the Federal Register of
June 7, 1995 (60 FR 30090). The user fee is $3.00 per name per query
submitted via telecommunications network and paid via an electronic
funds transfer or credit card, with query response sent via the
telecommunications network. A $3.00 surcharge is charged for queries
submitted electronically on diskette to pay for the extra handling and
mailing costs for these queries. A $4.00 surcharge is charged for all
queries which are paid for by check or money order to cover the cost of
debt management.
The Data Bank is authorized by the Health Care Quality Improvement
Act of 1986 (the Act), title IV of Public Law 99-660, as amended (42
U.S.C. 11101 et seq.). Section 427 (b)(4) of the Act authorizes the
establishment of fees for the costs of processing requests for
disclosure and of providing such information.
Final regulations at 45 CFR part 60 set forth the criteria and
procedures for information to be reported to and disclosed by the Data
Bank. Section 60.3 of these regulations should be consulted for the
definition of terms used in this announcement.
A reassessment of the full operating costs related to processing
requests for disclosure of Data Bank information, as required by the
DHHS Appropriations Act of 1994 (title II of Pub. L. 103-112, dated
October 21, 1993), as well as an analysis of the comparative costs of
the various methods for filing and paying for queries, has resulted in
a decision to further reduce fees for users when they both query and
receive responses via the telecommunications network as well as pay
query fees by credit card, electronic funds transfer or such other
electronic transfer options as may be offered in the future. The
options to query and pay user fees by these means facilitate the
querying process and make it less costly to both users and the Data
Bank than all other available options.
Accordingly, the Department is implementing a $1.00 discount from
the current $3.00 per name per query fee for queries submitted both
electronically and paid via the methods described above, with receipt
by electronic method. The discounted fee for such queries will be
$2.00. This change is effective January 1, 1996.
The criteria set forth in Sec. 60.12 (b) of the regulations and
allowable costs required by the Appropriations Act of 1994 were used in
determining the amount of this new fee. The criteria include such cost
factors as: (1) Electronic data processing time, equipment, materials,
computer programmers and operators or other employees; and (2)
preparation of reports--materials, photocopying, postage, and
administrative personnel.
When a query is for information on one or more physicians,
dentists, or other health care practitioners, the appropriate total fee
will be $3.00 (less a $1.00 discount or plus a $3.00 and/or a $4.00
surcharge for submission and payment as described above) multiplied by
the number of individuals about whom information is being requested.
For examples, see the table below.
The fee charged will be reviewed periodically, and revised as
necessary, based upon experience. Any changes in the fee, and the
effective date of the change, will be announced in the Federal
Register.
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Fee per name in query,
Query method by method of payment Examples
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Electronic query (Telecom $2.00 (if paid 10 names in
network) with electronic electronically via query. 10 x
payment. credit card or other $2=$20.00.
electronic means and
response received
electronically ($3.00
fee less $1.00
discount).
Electronic query (Diskette) $6.00 (if paid 10 names in
with electronic payment. electronically via query. 10 x
credit card or other $6=$60.00.
electronic means and
response received on
paper) ($3.00 fee
plus $3.00 surcharge).
Electronic query (Telecom $7.00 (if not paid via 10 names in
network) with non-electronic credit card or other query. 10 x
payment. electronic means) $7=$70.00.
($3.00 fee plus $4.00
surcharge).
Electronic query (Diskette) $10.00 (if not paid 10 names in
with non-electronic payment. via credit card or query. 10 x
other electronic $10=$100.00
means) ($3.00 fee
plus $3.00 and $4.00
surcharges).
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Dated: February 5, 1996.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-2687 Filed 2-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P
