Proposed Revision to Existing Approved Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Division of Federal Employees' Compensation, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Department of Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

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). 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 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Claim for Compensation (CA-7); Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment (CA-16); Duty Status Report (CA-17); Attending Physician's Report (CA-20); Request for the Services of an Attendant (CA-1090); Referral to a Medical Specialist (CA-1305); OWCP Requirements for Audiological Examination (CA-1087); Referral for a Complete Audiologic and Otologic Examination (CA-1331); Outline for Audiologic Examination (CA-1332); Work Capacity Evaluation, Psychiatric/Psychological Conditions (OWCP-5a); Work Capacity Evaluation, Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Conditions (OWCP-5b); and Work Capacity Evaluation, Musculoskeletal Conditions (OWCP-5c). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the addresses section below on or before October 2, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by mail, delivery service, or by hand to Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Room S-3323, Washington, DC 20210; by fax to (202) 354-9647; or by Email to ferguson.yoon@dol.gov. Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail/delivery, fax, or Email). Please note that comments submitted after the comment period will not be considered.

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 statute provides for the payment of benefits for wage loss and/or for permanent impairment to a scheduled member, arising out of a work related injury or disease. The Act outlines the elements of pay which are to be included in an individual's pay rate, and sets forth various other criteria for determining eligibility to and the amount of benefits, including: augmentation of basic compensation for individuals with qualifying dependents; a requirement to report any earnings during a period that compensation is claimed; a prohibition against concurrent receipt of FECA benefits and benefits from OPM or certain VA benefits; a mandate that money collected from a liable third party found responsible for the injury for which compensation has been paid is applied to benefits paid or payable. This information collection is currently approved for use through January 31, 2018. This ICR has been classified as a revision, because of a change to the CA-16. As DFEC is focusing more on program integrity issues, in particular medical billing, and to strengthen efforts to reduce potential fraud and abuse, this form is intimately tied to those efforts and DFEC would like to incorporate recent and upcoming policy changes (e.g., new guidance/forms for compound and opioid medications—OMB 1240-0055). The proposed revisions provide more clarification regarding who may be authorized to initiate the CA-16 and who is authorized to provide medical treatment, to include qualifications and definitions of these authorization officials. Further clarification is provided regarding non-authorization for compound medication and the requirements to be enrolled with our Medical Bill Processing Contractor to receive payments for services rendered. Where revisions were made, Instructions were expanded to provide explanation.

II. Review Focus: The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

* 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;

* 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;

* enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and

* 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 a revision in order to carry out its statutory responsibility to compensate injured employees under the provisions of the Act.

Type of Review: Revision.

Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

Title: FECA medical Reports, Claim for Compensation.

OMB Number: 1240-0046.

Agency Number: CA-7; CA-16; CA-17; CA-20; CA-1090; CA-1305; CA-1087; CA-1331; CA-1332; OWCP-5a; OWCP-5b; and OWCP-5c.

Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Federal Government previously approved.

Total Respondents: 282,353.

Total Annual Responses: 232,353.

Average Time per Response: 5 minutes-30 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 25,605.

Frequency: As Needed.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $110,118.

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.