[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 139 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37486-37487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18241]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection
Activity; 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, (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C.) the Health
Care Financing Administration (HCFA), Department of Health and Human
Services, is publishing the following summary of proposed information
dissemination activities for public comment. Interested persons are
invited to send comments regarding the burden or any other aspect of
this information dissemination activity, including any of the following
subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed activity for
the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being
disseminated; and (3) the use of other automated techniques or other
forms of information dissemination to minimize the burden of the
information dissemination activity.
The Health Care Financing Administration is soliciting comments
from the public on dissemination of information via an agency home page
on the Internet. This service is a result of an ongoing process of
creating a more customer-oriented, efficient government by improving
public access to agency information electronically. The objective is to
make releasable information available through the Internet when there
is an important or substantial interest.
Examples of the information available include: (1) Program
information overview; (2) HCFA strategic plan and 5-year Information
Resource Management plan; (3) Laws and regulations; (4) Press
information, including news releases, Administrator speeches and
testimony; (5) Office of
[[Page 37487]]
Research initiatives; (6) Public Use Files which include data that
supports the institutional payment rates; (7) Beneficiary publications,
including the Medicare Handbook; and (8) Electronic interactive
communication of inquiries. The availability of the above on the
Internet does not eliminate the availability of this information from
the agency in hardcopy, tape, or other currently available formats.
The Health Care Financing Administration will continue to apply the
rules of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552) and the
Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 522a) when disclosing information via the home
page. All graphic and table information displays will be converted to
text format to ensure the content is accessible and readable for users
with disabilities, as well as to accommodate various browser software
packages and low-bandwidth access.
The Internet is a powerful tool for information dissemination and
interactive communication which HCFA aims to use to improve program
management and to provide improved services for program clients and
customers.
On-line information available on HCFA's home page will be updated
so documents represent a current resource rather than a historical
artifact. When a publication is changed, its title page or the home
page will include a modification date.
The intent is to continue to increase the presence of the agency
data available on the Internet. Some of the areas for future
consideration are: (1) Reporting of fraud and abuse; (2) Quality of
care issues; (3) Request for Proposals; (4) Published statistics and
evaluation reports; (5) Solicitations; (6) Increase the availability of
the Public Use Files; (7) Additional Medicare and Medicaid program
information; and (8) Managed Care information.
HCFA's home page may be accessed at http://www.hcfa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Sneen, Chief, Information
Processing Branch, 410-786-0163 or send an e-mail to MSneen @
hcfa.gov., or John Burke, HCFA Paperwork Clearance Officer, 410-786-
1325.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
dissemination activity must be mailed within 60 days of this notice
directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance Officer designated at the
following address: HCFA, Office of Financial and Human Resources,
Management Planning and Analysis Staff, Attention: John Burke, Room C2-
26-17, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.
Dated: July 11, 1996.
Kathleen B. Larson,
Director, Management Planning and Analysis Staff, Office of Financial
and Human Resources, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-18241 Filed 7-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P
