[Federal Register: June 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 115)]
[Notices]               
[Page 32239]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jn99-67]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-R-131]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

    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, has 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following 
proposal for the collection of information. Interested persons are 
invited to send comments regarding the 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: Information Collection 
Requirements in 42 CFR 411.408.
    Form No.: HCFA-R-131 (OMB# 0938-0566).
    Use: This information will be used by physician's providing written 
notice to a beneficiary that Medicare is likely to deny payment for a 
specified service. This information will also be used by Medicare Part 
B carriers to determine beneficiaries' liability. Section 9332 of the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, requires physicians ``who do 
not accept payment on an assignment-related basis'' to refund to 
patients any amounts they collect for services denied under section 
1862(a)(1) of the Social Security Act, as ``not reasonable and 
necessary for the treatment of illness or injury or to improve the 
functioning of a malformed body member.'' Refunds are not required in 
either of two circumstances. First, a refund is not required if the 
physician informs the beneficiary, prior to furnishing the service, 
that Medicare is unlikely to pay for the service and the beneficiary, 
after being so informed, agrees to pay out of his or her pocket. 
Second, a refund is not required if the physician did not know, and 
could not reasonably have been expected to know, that Medicare would 
not pay for the service. In those cases, the beneficiary is liable for 
the service.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 237,322.
    Total Annual Responses: 925,904.
    Total Annual Hours: 115,738.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement 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 and phone number, to Paperwork@hcfa.gov, or call 
the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed 
within 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB Desk Officer 
designated at the following address: OMB Human Resources and Housing 
Branch, Attention: Allison Eydt, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, D.C. 20503.

    Date: May 20, 1999.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-15206 Filed 6-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P