[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 63 (Monday, April 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17093-17094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6533]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10140, CMS-460, CMS-R-65]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 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 & Medicaid 
Services (CMS) 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: Claims Error Rate Testing (CERT)/Electronic 
Medical Records Exploratory Survey; Form No.: CMS-10140 (OMB 
0938-NEW); Use: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is 
using a private vendor to conduct market research to assess the value 
of electronic patient medical records relative to the Claims Error Rate 
Testing (CERT) program and determine what actions CMS can take to 
encourage the use of electronic records for the purpose of lowering the 
CERT error rate. The proposed effort will test the hypothesis that 
increased functionality of electronic records (meaning, greater 
connectivity and features), is associated with lower CERT error rates 
related to coding, non-response and incomplete documentation. The 
project is expected to assist CMS in identifying a strategy to improve 
the CERT claims error rate by developing an approach that would both 
facilitate and encourage the use of electronic patient medical records 
in the health care setting. This research focuses on physician 
practices, outpatient hospitals, durable medical equipment (DME) 
providers and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that have been

[[Page 17094]]

randomly sampled as part of the CERT process; Frequency: On occasion; 
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 
1600; Total Annual Responses: 1600; Total Annual Hours: 454.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare 
Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement; Form No.: CMS-460 
(OMB 0938-0373); Use: Form number CMS-460 is completed by 
nonparticipating physicians and suppliers if they choose to participate 
in Medicare Part B. By signing the agreement, the physician or supplier 
agrees to take assignment on all Medicare claims. To take assignment 
means to accept the Medicare allowed amount as payment in full for the 
services they furnish and to charge the beneficiary no more than the 
deductible and coinsurance for the covered service. In exchange for 
signing the agreement, the physician or supplier receives a significant 
number of program benefits not available to nonparticipating suppliers. 
The information associated with this collection is needed to identify 
the recipients of the program benefits; Frequency: Other--when starting 
a new business; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number 
of Respondents: 6000; Total Annual Responses: 6000; Total Annual Hours: 
1500.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Information 
Collection Requirements in Final Peer Review Organization Regulations, 
42 CFR Sections 1004.40, 1004.50, 1004.60, 1004.70; Form No.: CMS-R-65 
(OMB 0938-0444); Use: This final rule updates the procedures 
governing the imposition and adjudication of program sanctions 
predicated on the recommendations of Peer Review Organizations (PROs). 
These changes are being made as a result of statutory revisions 
designed to address health care fraud and abuse issues in the OIG 
sanction process. The Peer Review Improvement Act of 1982 amended Title 
XI of the Social Security Act, creating the Utilization and Quality 
Control Peer Review Organization program. Section 1156 of the Social 
Security Act imposes obligations on health care practitioners and other 
persons who furnish or order services or items under Medicare. This 
section also provides for sanction actions, if the Secretary determines 
that the obligations as stated by this section are not met. Quality 
Improvement Organizations (QIOs) are responsible for identifying 
violations. QIOs may allow practitioners or other persons, 
opportunities to submit relevant information before determining that a 
violation has occurred. These requirements are used by the QIOs to 
collect the information necessary to make their determinations; 
Frequency: On occasion; Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; 
Number of Respondents: 53; Total Annual Responses: 1060; Total Annual 
Hours: 22,684.
    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 Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer designated at 
the address below:
    CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development, Attention: William N. Parham, III, 
Room C5-13-27, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: March 24, 2005.
John P. Burke, III,
CMS Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Regulations Development 
Group.
[FR Doc. 05-6533 Filed 4-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P