Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[09/22/2003]
Volume 68, Number 183, Page 55065-55066
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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
addressee section below on or before November 21, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, Email bell.hazel@dol.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 (FECA), 5 U.S.C. 8101, et seq., the
Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., and the Energy
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000
(EEOICPA), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq., and the Longshore and Harbor
Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), 33 U.S.C. 901 et seq. These statutes
require OWCP to pay for medical and vocational rehabilitation services
provided to beneficiaries. In order for OWCP's billing contractor to
pay providers of these services with its automated bill processing
system, providers must ``enroll'' with one or more of the OWCP programs
that administer the statutes by submitting certain profile information,
including identifying information, tax I.D. information, and whether
they possess specialty or sub-specialty training. Form OWCP-1168 is
used to obtain this information from each provider. If this information
is not obtained before the provider submits his or her first bill, the
bill payment process is prolonged and increases the burden on
providers. This information collection is currently approved for use
through March 31, 2004.
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
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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 approval for the extension of this
information collection in order to carry out a wide range of automated
medical bill ``edits'', such as, the identification of duplicate
billings, the application of pertinent fee schedules that apply to the
programs, utilization review, and fraud and abuse detection. This
information is also used to furnish timely and detailed reports to
providers on the status of previously submitted bills.
Type of Review: Extension
Agency: Employment Standards Administration
Title: Provider Enrollment Form.
OMB Number: 1215-0137
Agency Number: OWCP-1168
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Total Respondents: 12,600
Total Responses: 12,600
Time per Response: 8 minutes.
Frequency: On Occassion.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,676
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $5,040
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: September 15, 2003.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-24053 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm
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