96-21650. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 166 (Monday, August 26, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 43775-43776]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-21650]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    Health Resources and Services Administration
    
    
    Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
    Comment Request
    
        In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
    proposed data collection projects, the Health Resources and Services 
    Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
    projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork 
    Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed 
    project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
    instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.
        Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
    information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
    the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
    utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
    proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
    utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
    to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
    including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
    forms of information technology.
    
    Proposed Project
    
        Uncompensated Services Reporting and Recordkeeping--42 CFR 124, 
    Subpart F (OMB No. 0915-0077)-- Extension and Revision--Titles VI and 
    XVI of the PHS Act, commonly known as the Hill-Burton Act, provide for 
    government grants and loans for construction or renovation of health 
    care facilities. As a condition of receiving this construction 
    assistance, facilities are required to provide a ``reasonable volume'' 
    of services to persons unable to pay. Facilities are also required to 
    provide assurances periodically that the required level of 
    uncompensated care is being provided, and to follow certain 
    notification and recordkeeping procedures. These requirements are 
    referred to as the uncompensated services assurance.
        The regulations contain provision for reporting to the government 
    the amount of free care provided, as well as provisions for following 
    certain notification and recordkeeping procedures. All of these 
    regulations are included in this clearance request. The Uncompensated 
    Services Assurance Report (USAR) (HRSA form 710) is one of the methods 
    of reporting the amount of free care provided. There are no changes to 
    the USAR form. There will be a significant reduction in the burden from 
    the previous request for OMB approval. Fewer facilities are obligated 
    to report since many have met their obligation. A new Charitable 
    Facilities Compliance Alternative has been added. Burden estimates are 
    as follows:
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Responses                    Total   
                            Requirement                           Number of       per       Burden per      burden  
                                                                 respondents   respondent    response       hours   
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Disclosure Requirements (42 CFR):                                                                               
        Published Notices (124.504(a)).........................          788            1          1             788
        Individual Notices (124.504(c))........................          788            1         59          46,492
        Determinations of Eligibility (124.507)................          788          160          2         252,160
    Reporting Requirements (42 CFR)--Uncompensated Services--                                                       
     HRSA Form 710 (USAR) (124.509(a)).........................          678            1         14           9,492
    Complaint Information (124.511(a)):                                                                             
        Individuals............................................            4            1           .25            1
        Facilities.............................................            4            1           .50            2
    Application for Compliance Alternative for Public                                                               
     Facilities (124.513(c))...................................            5            1          6              30
    Annual Certification for Public Facilities (124.509(b))....          355            1           .5           178
    Application for Compliance Alternative for Small Obligation                                                     
     Facilities (124.514(c))...................................            0            0          2               0
    Annual Certification for Small Obligation Facilities                                                            
     (124.509(c))..............................................            2            1           .5             1
    Application for Compliance Alternative for Charitable                                                           
     Facilities (124.516(c))...................................            2            1          6              12
    Annual Certification for Charitable Facilities (124.516(c))           19            1           .5            10
          Subtotal--Reporting and Disclosure--309,166                                                               
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Recordkeeping Burden is as follows:
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Hours/                 
         Requirement (42 CFR)        Number of     facility/   Recordkeeping
                                   recordkeepers      year         burden   
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Nonalternative Facilities                                               
     (124.510(a))................           788            75        59,100 
    Small Obligation Facilities                                             
     (124.510(b))\1\.............             2             0             0 
    Public Facilities                                                       
     (124.510(b))\1\.............           355             0             0 
          Subtotal--Recordkeeping                                           
           -59,100                                                          
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Requires facilites under the public facilities compliance           
      alternative and the small obligation compliance alternative to        
      maintain qualification documents. These are ordinarily retained by    
      facilities, so there is no burden.                                    
    
    
    [[Page 43776]]
    
    
        Total burden for this project is estimated to be 368,266 hours.
        Send comments to Patricia Royston, HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
    Room 14-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. 
    Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.
    
        Dated: August 20, 1996.
    J. Henry Montes,
    Associate Administrator for Policy Coordination.
    [FR Doc. 96-21650 Filed 8-23-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4160-15-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
08/26/1996
Department:
Health Resources and Services Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
96-21650
Pages:
43775-43776 (2 pages)
PDF File:
96-21650.pdf