[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 236 (Friday, December 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73250-73251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7134]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10177 and CMS-10044]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
    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

[[Page 73251]]

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: Survey of Contract Labor in Selected Health 
Industries; Form Number: CMS-10177 (OMB: 0938-NEW); Use: CMS 
Medicare reimbursement to hospitals and skilled nursing facilities is 
based, in part, on the portion of costs which are related to, are 
influenced by, or vary with the local labor markets. This portion is 
known as the labor-related share. Currently, contract labor costs for 
accounting and auditing services, engineering services, legal services, 
and management consulting services are included in the labor-related 
share. These costs are calculated based on data published in the 
Medicare cost reports and the Input-Output tables published by the 
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). At this time, the labor-related 
share is not used to reimburse end-stage renal disease centers (ESRDs) 
for providing Medicare services. However, there is a possibility that 
this circumstance may change; therefore CMS will include ESRDs in the 
survey. It is assumed that these professional services contract labor 
costs are purchased in the local labor market and thus should be 
included in the labor-related share. A search of the literature reveals 
no existing work on this subject. Therefore, CMS will survey hospitals, 
skilled nursing facilities, and kidney dialysis centers to determine if 
their professional service contract labor is hired from local or 
national labor markets.; Frequency: Reporting--One-time; Affected 
Public: Not-for-profit institutions, Business or other for-profit, 
Federal Government, State, Local, or Tribal Government; Number of 
Respondents: 4,000; Total Annual Responses: 4,000; Total Annual Hours: 
4,000.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare 
Lifestyle Modification Program Demonstration; Form Number: CMS-10044 
(OMB: 0938-0871); Use: The Medicare Lifestyle Modification 
Program Demonstration will focus on two Medicare-sponsored, lifestyle 
modification programs designed to reverse, reduce, or ameliorate the 
progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) at risk for significant 
morbidity and mortality. Lifestyle modification programs are an 
increasingly important approach to the secondary prevention of coronary 
morbidity. Research has provided evidence that lifestyle changes 
decrease cardiovascular risk factors, resulting in lower morbidity and 
mortality associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Such programs 
may reduce the incidence of hospitalizations and invasive procedures 
among patients with substantial coronary occlusion. Consequently, 
lifestyle modification may also reduce the need for revascularization 
procedures (coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous 
coronary angioplasty (PTCA)) as well as the use of ambulatory and 
inpatient services for this disease. This demonstration will test the 
cost effectiveness and feasibility of providing payment for 
cardiovascular lifestyle modification program services to Medicare 
beneficiaries.; Frequency: Reporting--Monthly; Affected Public: 
Individuals or Households; Number of Respondents: 2,240; Total Annual 
Responses: 1,680; Total Annual Hours: 1106.
    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.
    To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be received at the address below, 
no later than 5 p.m. on February 7, 2006.

CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of 
Regulations Development--B, Attention: William N. Parham, III, Room C4-
26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: December 2, 2005.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E5-7134 Filed 12-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P