Notice2024-13437
Proposed New Information Collection; Form CA-21, Attending Physician's Certification of Continuing Workers' Compensation Disability (OMB Control No. 1240-0NEW)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentWorkers' Compensation Programs Office
Abstract
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request 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, OWCP/DFELHWC is soliciting comments on the new information collection for Attending Physician's Certification of Continuing Workers' Compensation Disability, CA-21.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51905-51906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13437]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Worker's Compensation Programs
Proposed New Information Collection; Form CA-21, Attending
Physician's Certification of Continuing Workers' Compensation
Disability (OMB Control No. 1240-0NEW)
AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation, Division of Federal Employees'
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, (OWCP/DFELHWC), Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance
request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request
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, OWCP/DFELHWC is soliciting comments on the new information
collection for Attending Physician's Certification of Continuing
Workers' Compensation Disability, CA-21.
DATES: All comments must be received on or before August 19, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following
way:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for WCPO-2024-0012.
Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will be posted to the docket, with no changes.
Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible for
ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such
as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential
business information.
<bullet> If your comment includes confidential information that you
do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a
written/paper submission.
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the
following way:
<bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit U.S. DOL-Office of
Workers' Compensation Programs, OWCP, Room S3323, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210;
<bullet> OWCP will post your comment as well as any attachments,
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the
docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anjanette Suggs, Office of Workers'
Compensation Programs, OWCP, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3340465454401d525d59525d5647475673575c5f1d545c45"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="82f1f7e5e5f1ace3ece8e3ece7f6f6e7c2e6edeeace5edf4">[email protected]</span></a> (email); (202)
354-9660 (voice).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Office of Worker's Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the
Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), which provides for medical
and compensation benefits for work related injuries or disease from
federal employment. 5 U.S.C. 8149, Congress gives the Secretary of
Labor authority to prescribe the rules and regulations necessary for
the administration and enforcement of the FECA.
The relevant statutory provision 5 U.S.C. 8103, Medical services
and initial medical and other benefits, which reads as follows:
(a) The United States shall furnish to an employee who is injured
while in the performance of duty, the services, appliances, and
supplies prescribed or recommended by a qualified physician, which the
Secretary of Labor considers
[[Page 51906]]
likely to cure, give relief, reduce the degree or the period of
disability, or aid in lessening the amount of the monthly compensation.
These services, appliances, and supplies shall be furnished--
(1) whether or not disability has arisen;
(2) notwithstanding that the employee has accepted or is entitled
to receive benefits under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title or
another retirement system for employees of the Government; and
(3) by or on the order of United States medical officers and
hospitals, or, at the employee's option, by or on the order of
physicians and hospitals designated or approved by the Secretary. The
employee may initially select a physician to provide medical services,
appliances, and supplies, in accordance with such regulations and
instructions as the Secretary considers necessary, and may be furnished
necessary and reasonable transportation and expenses incident to the
securing of such services, appliances, and supplies. These expenses,
when authorized or approved by the Secretary, shall be paid from the
Employees' Compensation Fund.
(b) The Secretary, under such limitations or conditions as he
considers necessary, may authorize the employing agencies to provide
for the initial furnishing of medical and other benefits under this
section. The Secretary may certify vouchers for these expenses out of
the Employees' Compensation Fund when the immediate superior of the
employee certifies that the expense was incurred in respect to an
injury which was accepted by the employing agency as probably
compensable under this subchapter. The Secretary shall prescribe the
form and content of the certificate.
In accordance with 20 CFR 10.330, OWCP requires each employee who
is receiving benefits to provide a medical report from their attending
physician. Per 20 CFR 10.332, OWCP will request the attending physician
to provide a report at periodic intervals in all cases requiring
hospital treatment or prolonged care. The attending physician will be
asked to describe the continuing need for medical treatment for the
accepted condition, prognosis, description of work tolerance
limitations, and the physician's opinion on causal relationship between
the diagnosed condition and the employee's work factors.
Further, 20 CFR 10.501 states:
(a) The employee is responsible for providing sufficient medical
evidence to justify payment of any compensation sought.
(1) To support payment of continuing compensation where an employee
has been found entitled to periodic benefits, narrative medical
evidence must be submitted whenever OWCP requests it but ordinarily not
less than once a year and with any filing of a form CA-1032. It must
contain a physician's rationalized opinion as to whether the specific
period of alleged disability is causally related to the employee's
accepted injury or illness.
(2) For those employees with more serious conditions not likely to
improve and for employees over the age of 65, OWCP may require less
frequent documentation, but ordinarily not less than once every three
years.
References: 5 U.S.C. 8149, 5 U.S.C. 8103, 20 CFR 10.330, 20 CFR 10.332,
and 20 CFR. 10.501.
See: <a href="https://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/statutes/feca.htm#">https://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/statutes/feca.htm#</a>)
See: eCFR: 20 CFR part 10--Claims for Compensation Under the Federal
Employees' Compensation Act, as Amended
II. Desired Focus of Comments
OWCP is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to the Attending Physician's Certification of
Continuing Workers' Compensation Disability. OWCP is particularly
interested in comments that:
<bullet> Evaluate whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information has practical utility;
<bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of OWCP's estimate of the burden
related to the information collection, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
<bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and
<bullet> Minimize the burden of the information collection 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
submission of responses.
Background documents related to this information collection request
are available at <a href="https://regulations.gov">https://regulations.gov</a> and at DOL-OWCP located at
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs,
Room S3323, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. Questions
about the information collection requirements may be directed to the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns Attending Physician's
Certification of Continuing Workers' Compensation Disability, CA-21.
Type of Review: New collection.
Agency: DOL--Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
OMB Number: 1240-0NEW.
Affected Public: Private Sector--Businesses or other for-profits.
Number of Respondents: 33,372.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Number of Responses: 33,372.
Annual Burden Hours: 2,670 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $25,029.00.
OWCP Forms: OWCP Form CA-21, Attending Physician's Certification of
Continuing Workers' Compensation Disability.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the
proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of
public record and will be available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
Anjanette Suggs,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-13437 Filed 6-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 20, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.