Proposed Collection; Comment Request [10/09/2002]
Volume 67, Number 196, Page 62991-62992
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment Standards Administration
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
ACTION: Notice.
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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
ADDRESSES section below on or before December 9, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution
[[Page 62992]]
Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-0339,
fax (202) 693-1451, Email pforkel@fenix2.dol-esa.gov. 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; the Black Lung Benefits Act, the
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act, and the
Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act. These programs pay for
medical services rendered for the diagnosis and treatment of injured
workers for conditions compensable under the Acts. The Provider
Enrollment Form (OWCP-1168) is currently used in the Black Lung and
Energy programs to obtain profile information on medical providers
which is necessary to process payments, apply fee schedules, and
conduct checks to identify duplicate and other erroneous billing. This
information collection is currently approved for use through February
2005.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
[sbull] 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 to expand the use of the OWCP 1168 to
two additional programs, the Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers
Compensation and the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation, as
part of the development of a Centralized Medical Bill System for the
processing of medical bills in each of OWCP's four programs. This
centralization will result in an increase in efficiency of processing
medical bills, reduction of administrative costs, and improvement of
the efficiency of benefits and service provision. This collection
request seeks approval of revisions to the current form to accommodate
its use by The Division of Federal Employees' Compensation and the
Division of Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation. In addition,
this revision will facilitate the centralization of bill processing for
all four programs under a Federal contractor. Providers must be
enrolled in the new system prior to implementation to ensure the
continuity of services to both the claimant and provider communities.
Type of Review: Revision.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Provider Enrollment Form.
OMB Number: 1215-0137.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Total Respondents/Responses: 20,100.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,497.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $8,040.
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: October 3, 2002.
Margaret J. Sherrill,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-25664 Filed 10-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P
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