Medical Travel Refund Request

OMB Control No: 1240-0037	ICR Reference No: 202311-1240-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202308-1240-002
Agency/Subagency: DOL/OWCP	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Medical Travel Refund Request
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 11/20/2023

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2026	11/30/2026
Responses	356,875	356,875
Time Burden (Hours)	53,531	53,531
Cost Burden (Dollars)	239,106	239,106

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Abstract: OWCP must reimburse beneficiaries for travel expenses for covered medical treatment. In order to determine whether amounts requested as travel expenses are appropriate, OWCP must receive certain data elements, including the signature of the physician for medical expenses claimed under the BLBA. Form OWCP-957 is the standard format for the collection of these data elements. The regulations implementing these three statutes allow for the collection of information needed to enable OWCP to determine if reimbursement requests for travel expenses should be paid.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 7384 Name of Law: Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA)    US Code: 5 USC 8101 Name of Law: Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA)    US Code: 30 USC 901 Name of Law: Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA)

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 35932	06/01/2023
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 65754	09/25/2023
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Medical Travel Refund Request OWCP-957, OWCP 957 Medical Travel Refund Request - Mileage ,   Medical Travel Refund Request - Expenses

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	356,875	356,875	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	53,531	53,531	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	239,106	239,106	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The increased cost burden is the result of increased postage prices, inflation of envelopes and cost of living adjustment for salaries. Since OWCP entered a new medical bill processing contract in 2020, the per-bill cost calculation was adjusted by calculating projected billing volumes with operations cost for the current year. The new contract encompasses a combination of services and there is not a cost breakdown for this specific form.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,776,158

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Anjanette Suggs 202 354-9660 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(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;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
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.
Certification Date: 11/20/2023

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