[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5889-5890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2788]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10083]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS) (formerly known as the Health Care Financing 
Administration (HCFA)), Department of Health and Human Services, is 
publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public 
comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this 
burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility 
of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of 
the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology to minimize the information 
collection burden.
    We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information 
collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of 
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following 
requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency 
review because the collection of this information is needed before the 
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with the Trade Act of 
2002. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures 
because President of an unanticipated event and public harm.

[[Page 5890]]

    We are requesting emergency clearance of a pilot study designed to 
elicit information from discharged patients concerning their hospital/
acute care experience. Given the current momentum, enthusiasm and 
support expressed by hospitals and the hospital associations for public 
reporting of hospital quality information, it is important to provide 
the tools needed for reliable and valid data collection as soon as 
possible. CMS would like to take advantage of the opportunity of 
testing the H-CAHPS instrument in the Hospital State Pilots that has 
just started. It is important to provide hospitals a standard tool and 
data collection methodology by July/August 2003 to support this joint 
initiative. We are interested in receiving comments on the pilot during 
the course of the pilot, as well as during the comment period mentioned 
below. However, those received after the close of the comment period 
will not be included in the materials that OMB reviews in determining 
whether to approve the collection.
    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
February 21, 2003, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by February 20, 2003. During this 180-day 
period, we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing 
the initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment 
period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB 
review and an extension of this emergency approval.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Pilot Test of Hospital CAHPS Survey; Form No.: 
CMS-10083 (OMB 0938-XXXX); Use: CMS has requested a hospital 
survey as a way of providing comparison information for consumers who 
need to select a hospital and as a way of encouraging accountability of 
hospitals for the care they provide. With a standardized instrument 
consumers will be able to make ``apples to apples'' comparisons among 
hospitals, allow hospitals and hospital chains to self compare, and 
provide state oversight officials with useful data. A standardized 
instrument, developed under the CAHPS umbrella, will produce a reliable 
and valid instrument that any organization can use at no cost to obtain 
patient data about hospital experiences. This tool will be adopted by 
the National Hospital Voluntary Initiative; Frequency: Once; Affected 
Public: Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 16,500; Total 
Annual Responses: 16,500; Total Annual Hours: 5,500.
    We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of 
these information collections. A notice will be published in the 
Federal Register when approval is obtained.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' 
Web Site address at http://cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/default.asp or 
E-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, 
and CMS document identifier, to [email protected], or call the Reports 
Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
    Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information 
requirements. However, as noted above, in order to be considered in the 
OMB approval process, comments on these information collection and 
recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed to the designees 
referenced below, by February 20, 2003.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development 
and Issuances, Attn: Reports Clearance Officer, Room C5-16-03, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax Number: (410) 786-
3064. Attn: Julie Brown; and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167, Attn: Brenda 
Aguilar, CMS Desk Officer.

    Dated: January 30, 2003.
John P. Burke, III,
CMS Reports Clearance Officer, CMS, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 03-2788 Filed 2-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P