[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 214 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67476-67477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22131]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10102]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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), 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 function;

[[Page 67477]]

(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: National Implementation of the Hospital 
Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS); 
Form No.: CMS-10102 (OMB 0938-NEW); Use: The intent of the 
HCAHPS initiative is to provide a standardized survey instrument and 
data collection methodology for measuring patients' perspectives on 
hospital care. While many hospitals collect information on patient 
satisfaction, there is no national standard for collecting or publicly 
reporting this information that would enable valid comparisons to be 
made across all hospitals. In order to make ``apples to apples'' 
comparisons to support consumer choice, it is necessary to introduce a 
standard measurement approach. HCAHPS can be viewed as a core set of 
questions that hospitals can combine with their customized items. 
Participation in HCAHPS is voluntary. Hospitals will begin using 
HCAHPS, also known as Hospital CAHPS or the CAHPS Hospital Survey, 
under the auspices of the Hospital Quality Alliance, a private/public 
partnership that includes hospital associations, consumer groups, 
payors and government agencies that share a common interest in 
reporting on hospital quality; Frequency: Monthly; Affected Public: 
Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 2,852,000; Total 
Annual Responses: 2,852,000; Total Annual Hours: 285,200.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for these 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. (Note: This package has been 
modified since the November 19, 2004 publication.)
    To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be received by the OMB Desk 
Officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on December 7, 2005.
    OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235,Washington, DC 
20503.

    Dated: October 28, 2005.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-22131 Filed 11-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P