98-17347. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 125 (Tuesday, June 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35610-35611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17347]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 25, 1998.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of 
each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be 
obtained by calling the Department of Labor, Departmental Clearance 
Officer, Todd R. Owen ([phone] ext. 143) or by E-Mail to Owen-
[e-mail].
    Comments should be sent to Office of The Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for BLS, DM, ESA, ETA, MSHA, OSHA, 
PWBA, or VETS, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, 
DC 20503 ([phone]), within 30 days from the date of this 
publication in the Federal Register.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

[[Page 35611]]

     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information 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.
    Agency: Pension Welfare Benefits Administration.
    Title: Notice of Participants and Beneficiaries and the Federal 
Government of Electing One Percent Increased Cost Exemption.
    OMB Number: 1210-0105 (extension).
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 479.
    Total Responses: 94,854.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 2 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,162 hours.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): 270,000.
    Description: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 requires parity 
between the dollar limits imposed on mental health benefits and those 
imposed on medical/surgical benefits offered by group health plans and 
group health insurance coverage offered by issuers. Plans may be 
exempted from this requirement if parity would result in an increase in 
cost of at least one percent and participants and beneficiaries and the 
federal government are notified. This information collection request 
covers notifying participants and beneficiaries and to the federal 
government when a plan elects the increased cost exemption.

    Title: Calculation and Disclosure of Documentation of Eligibility 
for Exemption.
    OMB Number: 1210-0106 (extension).
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,364.
    Total Responses: 3,527.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 2 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 118 hours.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: $2,420,000.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $10,000.
    Description: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 requires parity 
between the dollar limits imposed on mental health benefits and those 
imposed on medical/surgical benefits offered by group health plans and 
group health insurance coverage offered by issuers. Plans may be 
exempted from this requirement if parity would result in an increase in 
cost of at least one percent and participants and beneficiaries and the 
federal government are notified. Upon receipt of the notice, 
participants and beneficiaries may request and receive at no charge a 
summary of the information on which the exemptions were based. This 
information collection request covers the calculation and disclosure of 
information on which the exemption was based.

    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
    Title: Notice of Group Health Plan's Use of Transition Period, and 
Posting Thereof.
    OMB Number: 1210-0107 (extension).
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 286.
    Total Responses: 286.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 2 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 10 hours.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $1,200.
    Description: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 requires parity 
between the dollar limits imposed on mental health benefits and those 
imposed on medical/surgical benefits offered by group health plans and 
group health insurance coverage offered by issuers. Plans may be 
exempted from this requirement if parity would result in an increase in 
cost of at least one percent and participants and beneficiaries and the 
federal government are notified. Plans electing increased cost 
exemption during all or part of the first quarter of 1998 under the 
rule's transition provisions must notify the federal government and 
post a copy of the notice in the workplace. This information collection 
request covers notice and posting concerning the use of the transition 
period.
Todd R. Owen,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-17347 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-M