Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, DoD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by December 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Chief Management Officer, Directorate of Oversight and Compliance, Regulatory and Audit Matters Office, 9010 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-9010.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

Any associated form(s) for this collection may be located within this same electronic docket and downloaded for review/testing. Follow the instructions at http://www.regulations.gov for submitting comments. Please submit comments on any given form identified by docket number, form number, and title.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the Appeals, Hearings and Claims Collection Division, Office of General Counsel, TRICARE® Management Activity, ATTN: Mark P. Donahue, 16401 East Centretech Parkway, Aurora, CO 80011-9066, or via telephone at (303) 676-3411.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Professional Qualifications Medical/Peer Reviewers, CHAMPUS Form 780, OMB Control Number 0720-0005.

Needs and Uses: The information collection requirement is necessary to obtain and record the professional qualifications of medical and peer reviewers utilized within TRICARE®. The form is included as an exhibit in an appeal or hearing case file as evidence of the reviewer's professional qualifications to review the medical documentation contained in the case file.

Affected Public: Business or other for profit.

Annual Burden Hours: 20.

Number of Respondents: 60.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 60.

Average Burden per Response: 20 minutes.

Frequency: On occasion.

Respondents are medical professionals who provide medical and peer review of cases appealed to the Office of Appeals, Hearings and Claims Collection Division, Office of General Counsel, TRICARE® Management Activity. CHAMPUS Form 780 records the professional qualifications of the medical or peer reviewer. The completed form is included as an exhibit in the appeal or hearing case file, and documents for anyone reviewing the file, the professional qualifications of the medical professional who reviewed the case. If the form is not included in the case file, individuals reviewing the file cannot be readily assured of the qualifications of the reviewing medical professional. Having qualified professionals provide medical and peer review is essential in maintaining the integrity of the appeal and hearing process.