[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68087-68088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30200]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-R-53; CMS-10102]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
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.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Imposition of 
Cost Sharing Charges Under Medicaid and Supporting Regulations 
contained in 42 CFR 447.53; Form No.: CMS-R-53 (OMB 0938-
0429); Use: The information collection requirements contained in 42 CFR 
447.53 require the States to include in their Medicaid State Plan their 
cost sharing provisions for the medically and categorically needy. The 
State Plan is the method in which States inform staff of State 
policies, standards, procedures and instructions; Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: State, local or tribal government; 
Number of Respondents: 54; Total Annual Responses: 20; Total Annual 
Hours: 2,700.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: National Implementation of Hospital CAHPS 
(HCAHPS); Form No.: CMS-10102 (OMB 0938-NEW); Use: The HCAHPS 
survey instrument, developed under the CAHPS umbrella, is 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 Quality Initiative: A Public Resource on Hospital 
Performance. Though the main purposes of this survey are consumer 
choice and hospital accountability, we intend and expect that the 
collection and reporting of these data will stimulate quality 
improvements. A standardized hospital survey from the patient's 
perspective will generate both universal measures and comparative data 
for consumers who need to select a hospital, and a new incentive for 
hospitals to further improve quality of care and accountability. This 
standardized instrument will allow consumers to make ``apples to 
apples'' comparisons among hospitals, allow hospitals and hospital 
chains to self compare, and provide state oversight officials with 
useful data; Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Individuals or 
households; Number of Respondents: 2,212,000; Total Annual Responses: 
2,212,000; Total Annual Hours: 368,367.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS's 
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 60 days of this notice directly to the CMS Paperwork Clearance 
Officer designated at the following address: CMS, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development 
and Issuances, Attention: Melissa Musotto, Room C5-14-03, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.


[[Page 68088]]


    Dated: November 26, 2003.
Julie Brown,
Acting, Reports Clearance Officer, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Strategic Affairs, Division of Regulations Development and Issuances.
[FR Doc. 03-30200 Filed 12-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P