[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 199 (Friday, October 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61257-61258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23123]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10128, CMS-10112 and CMS-10068]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Public Reporting on Quality Outcomes National 
Survey of Hospital Executives (``PRO QUO''); Use: CMS seeks to survey 
hospitals quality improvement executives in spring 2005 to assess 
awareness of CMS Hospital Quality Initiatives and related publicity, 
and to assess impact of these initiatives on hospitals and their 
quality improvement programs. Findings will be used to enhance CMS 
programs to assist hospitals in quality improvement. Form Number: CMS-
10128 (OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: Not-
for-profit institutions and business or other for-profit; Number of 
Respondents: 1,600; Total Annual Responses: 1,600; Total Annual Hours: 
792.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Phone Surveys of Product/Service for Medicare 
Payment Validation and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 405.502; Form 
No.: CMS-10112 (OMB 0938-NEW);

[[Page 61258]]

Use: The Phone Surveys of Product/Service for Medicare Payment 
Validation will be used to identify specific products/services provided 
to Medicare beneficiaries and the costs associated with the provision 
of those products/services. The information collected will be used to 
validate the Medicare payment amounts for those products/services and 
institute revisions of payment amounts where necessary. The respondents 
will be the companies that have provided the product/service under 
review to Medicare beneficiaries.; Frequency: On occasion; Affected 
Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 2,000; 
Total Annual Responses: 2,000; Total Annual Hours: 16,000.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Assessing the 
Division of Beneficiary Inquiry Customer Service's Performance for 
Written Responses; Form No.: CMS-10068 (OMB 0938-0894); Use: 
The Division of Beneficiary Inquiry Customer Service (DBICS) will 
collect information several times during FY '04-'05 to assess the 
customer service provided via written responses. DBICS will conduct the 
written survey through mailings that will accompany actual responses. 
The envelopes will be sent by Release Clerks so that the actual writer 
has no knowledge that a particular response is being rated.; Frequency: 
Quarterly; Affected Public: Individuals or households; Number of 
Respondents: 2,872; Total Annual Responses: 2,872; Total Annual Hours: 
287.
    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://www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/, 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.

    Dated: October 7, 2004.
John P. Burke, III,
Paperwork Reduction Act Team Leader, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Strategic Affairs, Division of Regulations Development and Issuances.
[FR Doc. 04-23123 Filed 10-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P