[Federal Register: April 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 70)]
[Notices]
[Page 17696]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ap02-64]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-855]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.
In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) (formerly known as 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.
We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information
collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following
requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency
review because the collection of this information is needed before the
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR
part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with 5 U.S.C. 1395g
and 42 CFR 413.20 and 413.24. We cannot reasonably comply with the
normal clearance procedures because the approval for this collection
lapsed; having approval for the forms is vital to the Medicare program.
If we are unable to require specific information from providers and
suppliers that want to enroll in Medicare in order to participate in
the program, we will have little control over what information they
give us without going through a potentially long and drawn out process
by going back repeatedly to gather necessary information from the
potential providers and suppliers. The alternative would be to accept
any supplier or provider for participation in the program, which might
result in having otherwise unacceptable providers and suppliers
furnishing services to our beneficiaries.
CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by
April 26, 2002, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the
individuals designated below by April 22, 2002. We published a separate
Federal Register notice announcing the initiation of an extensive 60-
day agency review and public comment period on these requirements on
February 8, 2002. We will submit the requirements for OMB review and an
extension of this emergency approval during the 180-day approval
period.
Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement of a
previously approved collection.
Title of Information Collection: Medicare Federal Health Care
Programs Provider/Supplier Enrollment Application.
Form No.: HCFA-855 (OMB# 0938-0685).
Use: This information is needed to enroll providers and suppliers
into the Medicare program by identifying them, pricing and paying their
claims, and verifying their qualifications and eligibility to
participate in Medicare.
Frequency: Initial enrollment/recertification and every three
years.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Individuals or
Households, and Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 1,300,000.
Total Annual Responses: 604,000.
Total Annual Hours: 435,000.
We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of
these information collections. A notice will be published in the
Federal Register when approval is obtained.
To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS'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 CMS
document identifier, to Paperwork@hcfa.gov, or call the Reports
Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information
requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information
collection and recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed
to the designees referenced below, by April 22, 2002.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Information
Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise
Standards, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-
1850, Fax Number: (410) 786-0262, Attn: Julie Brown, CMS-855, and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC
20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167, Attn: Allison
Eydt, CMS Desk Officer.
Dated: April 3, 2002.
John P. Burke, III,
CMS Reports Clearance Officer, CMS, Office of Information Services,
Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 02-8824 Filed 4-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P