03-24053. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Provider Enrollment Form (OWCP-1168). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this Notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the addressee section below on or before November 21, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone [phone], fax [phone], Email [e-mail]. Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), 5 U.S.C. 8101, et seq., the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., and the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq., and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), 33 U.S.C. 901 et seq. These statutes require OWCP to pay for medical and vocational rehabilitation services provided to beneficiaries. In order for OWCP's billing contractor to pay providers of these services with its automated bill processing system, providers must “enroll” with one or more of the OWCP programs that administer the statutes by submitting certain profile information, including identifying information, tax I.D. information, and whether they possess specialty or sub-specialty training. Form OWCP-1168 is used to obtain this information from each provider. If this information is not obtained before the provider submits his or her first bill, the bill payment process is prolonged and increases the burden on providers. This information collection is currently approved for use through March 31, 2004.

II. Review Focus

The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

• 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 submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

The Department of Labor seeks approval for the extension of this information collection in order to carry out a wide range of automated medical bill “edits”, such as, the identification of duplicate billings, the application of pertinent fee schedules that apply to the programs, utilization review, and fraud and abuse detection. This information is also used to furnish timely and detailed reports to providers on the status of previously submitted bills.

Type of Review: Extension

Agency: Employment Standards Administration

Title: Provider Enrollment Form.

OMB Number: 1215-0137

Agency Number: OWCP-1168

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Total Respondents: 12,600

Total Responses: 12,600

Time per Response: 8 minutes.

Frequency: On Occassion.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,676

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $5,040

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

Dated: September 15, 2003.

Bruce Bohanon,

Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.