01-13207. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Health Care Financing Administration, DHHS.

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: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Procedures for Advisory Opinions Concerning Physician Referrals and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 411.370 through 411.389; Form No.: HCFA-R-216 (OMB# 0938-0714); Use: Section 4314 of Public Law 105-33, in establishing section 1877(g)(6) of the Act, requires the Department to provide advisory opinions to the public regarding whether a physician's referrals for certain designated health services are prohibited under the other provisions in section 1877 of the Act. These regulations provide the procedures under which members of the public may request advisory opinions from HCFA. Because all requests for advisory opinions are purely voluntary, respondents will only be required to provide information to us that is relevant to their individual requests.; Frequency: On occasion; Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, Business or other for-profit, and Individuals and Households; Number of Respondents: 200; Total Annual Responses: 200; Total Annual Hours: 2,000.

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 60 days of this notice directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance Officer designated at the following address: HCFA, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards, Attention: Dawn Willinghan,HCFA-R-216, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

Dated: May 17, 2001.

John P. Burke III,

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