[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 54905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23914]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10079]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.
    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.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New collection: Title of 
Information Collection: Hospital Wage Index Occupational Mix Survey and 
Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 412.230, 412.304 and 413.65; Form No.: 
CMS-10079 (OMB 0938-NEW); Use: In the May 4, 2001 Proposed 
Rule (66 FR 22674), CMS proposed to conduct a special survey to collect 
data from a sample of occupational categories that provide a valid 
measure of wage rates within a geographical area. In the August 1, 2001 
Final Rule (66 FR 39860), we responded to comments from the Proposed 
Rule and stated that, CMS will conduct a special survey of all short-
term acute-care hospitals that are required to report wage data to 
collect these data. Section 304 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP 
Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 requires CMS to collect 
wage data on hospital employees by occupational category. The 
collection is to be completed by September 30, 2003 and to be used to 
adjust the wage index by October 1, 2004.; Frequency: Other: once every 
three years; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, and not-
for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 4,500; Total Annual 
Responses: 4,500; Total Annual Hours: 720,000.
    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. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed 
within 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB desk officer: OMB 
Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Brenda Aguilar, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: September 12, 2003.
Julie Brown,
CMS Reports Clearance Officer, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Strategic Affairs, Division of Regulations Development and Issuances.
[FR Doc. 03-23914 Filed 9-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P