[Federal Register: February 12, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 29)]
[Notices]
[Page 7123-7124]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe03-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10084]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance
procedures because public harm is likely to result if the normal
clearance process followed. Waiting for the normal clearance process to
be completed might mean that vulnerable, elderly or disabled Medicare
beneficiaries in affected areas would have limited or no access to
physician services for prolonged periods.
CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by
March 1, 2003, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and
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recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the
individuals designated below by February 19, 2003. During this 180-day
period, we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing
the initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment
period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB
review and an extension of this emergency approval.
Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of
Information Collection: Targeted Beneficiary Survey on Access to
Physician Services Among Medicare Beneficiaries; Form No.: CMS-10084
(OMB 0938-NEW); Use: Recent anecdotal reports have suggested
that Medicare beneficiaries in certain parts of the country are having
difficulty finding physicians who will accept new Medicare patients. In
response to these anecdotes, CMS implemented a multi-faceted monitoring
system that incorporated multiple data sources to address
beneficiaries' reported access problems. As part of this monitoring
strategy, CMS has designed a Targeted Survey on Access to Physician
Services Among Medicare Beneficiaries. The survey is designed to
interview 300 Medicare beneficiaries in each of 11 geographic areas
where there is some evidence to suggest a potential physician access
problem. The geographic areas include the state of Alaska; the Phoenix,
Arizona area; the San Diego, California and San Francisco, California
areas; the Denver, Colorado area; the Tampa, Florida area; the
Springfield, Missouri area; the Las Vegas, Nevada area; the Brooklyn,
New York area; the Fort Worth, Texas area; and the Seattle, Washington
area. Survey respondents will be Medicare beneficiaries in the
traditional Medicare program who are covered by part B where Medicare
is the primary payer. The survey will over sample beneficiaries who are
most likely to be seeking new physicians. The goal of the survey is to
confirm or refute anecdotal reports that the Medicare payment
restrictions are contributing to physician access problems. The survey
will inform CMS about the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries
most likely to be experiencing physician access problems. It will
enhance CMS's ability to consider the potential effects of payment
changes on beneficiary access. Frequency: One-time; Affected Public:
Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 4,000; Total Annual
Responses: 4,000; Total Annual Hours: 958.
We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of
these information collections.
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://cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/default.asp, or
E-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number,
and CMS document identifier, to Paperwork@cms.hhs.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 February 19, 2003:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development
and Issuances, Attention: Dawn Willinghan, CMS-10084, Room C5-14-03,
7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850
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: Brenda
Agular, CMS Desk Officer.
Dated: February 4, 2003.
Anthony Mazzarella,
Acting, Paperwork Reduction Act Team Leader, CMS Reports Clearance
Officer, Office of Strategic Operations and Strategic Affairs, Division
of Regulations Development and Issuances.
[FR Doc. 03-3447 Filed 2-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P