01-9780. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Health Care Financing Administration.

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: Advance Beneficiary Notice and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 411.404, 411.406, and 411.408; Form No.: HCFA-R-131 (OMB# 0938-0566); Use: Physicians, practitioners, suppliers, and providers furnishing Part A or Part B items or services may bill a patient for items or services denied by Medicare as not reasonable and necessary, under Medicare program standards, if they inform the patient, before furnishing the items or services, that Medicare is likely to deny payment for the items or services and the patient, after being so informed, agrees to pay for the items or services; Frequency: On occasion; Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 980,742; Total Annual Responses: 18,823,150; Total Annual Hours: 1,568,596.

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 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB desk officer: OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Wendy Taylor, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: April 5, 2001.

John P. Burke III,

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