01-9288. 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: Revision of a currently approved collection;

Title of Information Collection: On Site Inspection for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Supplier Location & Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR, section 424.57;

Form Nos.: HCFA-R-263 (OMB# 0938-0749);

Use: To identify and implement measures to prevent fraud and abuse in the Medicare program. Controlling the entry of suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies (DMEPOS) to Medicare has been identified as one of the most effective ways to prevent fraud and abuse. To meet this challenge, HCFA is moving forward with a plan to improve the quality of the process for enrolling and reenrolling DMEPOS suppliers into the Medicare program by enhancing procedures for verifying supplier information collected on the Form HCFA-855S (DMEPOS Supplier Enrollment Application, OMB Approval No. 0938-0685). This form will be used to complete information on DMEPOS suppliers' compliance with regulations found in 42 CFR § 424.57.

Frequency: On occasion;

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal Government;

Number of Respondents: 20,000;

Total Annual Responses: 20,000;

Total Annual Hours: 10,000.

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 http://www.hcfa.gov/​regs/​prdact95.htm, or E-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and HCFA document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone]. 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, HCFA-R-263, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

April 4, 2001.

John P. Burke, III,

HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.