Baltimore The Health Care Financing Administration plans to survey approximately 340 suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies, and, along with Congress, use that information to determine whether additional competitive bidding demonstrations should be held at other sites.

HCFA's first bidding demonstration was held in Polk County, Fla. The second is scheduled to begin Feb. 1 in the San Antonio area.

The proposed survey, which HCFA estimates would take about two hours to complete, is necessary to collect access, quality and financial performance information about suppliers. Officials did not divulge the survey questions.

HCFA is soliciting comments, which must be mailed within 60 days of the Dec. 8 Federal Register notice to HCFA, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards, Attention: Julie Brown, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

HCFA's request for comments on the survey can be found under the Health Care Financing Administration heading in the Dec. 8 Federal Register at www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont00.html.