OMB endorses the
broad concept of HCFA's proposed National Provider System (NPS) but
at this time does not approve the detailed information collected by
the NPS or its implementation strategy. At this time, OMB is unable
to approve the underlying detail of the NPS for the following
reasons: 1) Although HCFA attempted to coordinate with other
Federal agencies and private sector standards groups, OMB has
discovered that additional coordination may be necessary. Such
coordination may facilitate adoption of the NPS standards by other
Federal Health programs and the private sector, thereby enhancing
the NPS' practical utility in the future. 2) OMB has not resolved
Privacy Act concerns with the NPS, and will continue to discuss
these and other concerns regarding the utility, burden, and
potential duplication of this collection as expressed in the
enclosed questions dated April 9, 1996 and the Department's
response to these concerns. For example, OMB is concerned that HCFA
may be proposing to collect more information than necessary to
enumerate health care providers. The burden imposed by these
information requirements may outweigh the benefits of more accurate
provider enumeration and detection of fraud and abuse. 3) Two
germaine Paperwork Reduction Act violation investigations remain
pending within the Department. HHS' investigation findings will
address whether a violation did in fact occur, and will provide
additional informa- tion pertaining to the statutory basis and
practical utility of the information collected by the NPS and its
components. As HHS has agreed, within one month OMB will seek to
resolve the above concerns with the Department, simultaneous with
its PRA review of the related Provider/Supplier Enrollment and
Application Form. Upon conclusion of these discussions, HCFA will
resubmit the NPS for expeditious OMB review. OMB waives the Federal
Register notices and comment periods for that resubmission.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/1997
03/31/1997
1
0
0
23,000
0
0
0
0
0
HHS is consolidating provider
enumeration across programs. The NPS will be used in program
operations and management to assign provider identification
numbers; i.e., billing numbers for claims processing and payment.
It will replace the current Medicare Physician and Eligibility
System (MPIES) and UPIN; it will replace the enumeration functions
of the Medicare OSCAR, CLIA, and NSC provider numbering
systems.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
National Provider System