01-13651. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; 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: New Collection; Title of Information Collection: National Medicare Practitioner and Provider Survey; Form No.: HCFA-10030 (OMB# 0938-NEW); Use: Under the Medicare Integrity Program, established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, HCFA was instructed to promote the integrity of the Medicare program by, among other things, education providers of services about payment integrity and benefit quality assurance issues. HCFA needs this information to design a national education plan aimed at reducing inadvertent errors caused by a lack of understanding of Medicare Rules and Regulations. The information will assist HCFA in creating high quality, accessible educational opportunities to help Medicare providers, practitioners, office staff and billing agents decrease unintentional errors on Medicare claims.; Frequency: Other: One-time only; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 9,000; Total Annual Responses: 9,000; Total Annual Hours: 3,600.

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: May 9, 2001.

John P. Burke III,

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