[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12362-12363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2165]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-R-205, CMS-718BP, 719BP, 720BP, 721BP, SUM, 
STAFFING, SC1 and SC2, CMS 10187]


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.

[[Page 12363]]

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Information 
Collection Requirements Referenced in HIPAA, Title 1 for the Individual 
Market, supporting regulations at 45 CFR 148.120, 148.122, 148.124, 
148.126, and 148.128, and Forms/instructions; Use: The provisions of 
Title I of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 
1996 (HIPAA) amend the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) and are 
designed to make it easier for people to get access to health care 
coverage, reduce the limitations that can be put on the coverage, and 
limit the issuers' ability to terminate coverage. This information 
collection requirement will ensure that issuers in the individual 
market comply with Title 1 of HIPAA, provide individuals with 
certificates of creditable coverage necessary to demonstrate prior 
creditable coverage, file the necessary documentation with CMS for 
review in States that have Federal direct enforcement, and ensure 
States' flexibility to implement State alternative mechanisms. 
Individuals and their dependents need certificates of creditable 
coverage to take advantage of the rights they have under HIPAA. States 
and CMS need the information supplied by issuers to properly perform 
their regulatory functions under HIPAA and or existing State law.; Form 
Number: CMS-R-205 (OMB: 0938-0703); Frequency: Recordkeeping, 
Third party disclosure, and Reporting--On Occasion; Affected Public: 
Individuals or Households, Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions and Federal, State, Local or Tribal Government; Number of 
Respondents: 1,042; Total Annual Responses: 2,987,501; Total Annual 
Hours: 868,147.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Business Proposal 
Forms for Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs); Use: The submission 
of proposal information by current QIOs and other bidders, on the 
appropriate forms, will satisfy CMS's need for meaningful, consistent, 
and verifiable data with which to evaluate contract proposals. The 
Government will be able to compare the costs reported by the QIOs on 
the cost reports to the proposed costs noted on the business proposal 
forms. Subsequent contract and modification negotiations will be based 
on historic cost data. The business proposal forms will be one element 
of the historical cost data from which we can analyze future proposed 
costs. In addition, the business proposal format will standardize the 
cost proposing and pricing process among all QIOs. With well-defined 
cost centers and line items, proposals can be compared among QIOs for 
reasonableness and appropriateness; Form Number: CMS-718BP, 719BP, 
720BP, 721BP, SUM, STAFFING, SC1 and SC2 (OMB: 0938-0579); 
Frequency: Reporting--Triennially; Affected Public: Not-for-profit 
institutions, Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 20; 
Total Annual Responses: 20; Total Annual Hours: 455.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Evaluation of the Demonstration of Coverage of 
Chiropractic Services Under Medicare; Use: Section 651 of the Medicare 
Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, 
authorizes a two-year demonstration ``to evaluate the feasibility and 
advisability of covering chiropractic services under Medicare''. The 
Demonstration aims to evaluate both the costs and the benefits of 
expanded coverage for chiropractic services. The evaluation will 
examine the achievements as well as the difficulties inherent in 
demonstration implementation. The study includes a descriptive 
evaluation of the program, a survey of a total of 2,000 beneficiaries 
using expanded services, analyses of medical claims to determine 
service utilization and expenditures, as well as the cost impact on the 
Medicare program. These data will allow the researchers to examine use, 
effectiveness, and satisfaction of Medicare beneficiaries with the 
chiropractic services they receive in relation to their demographic and 
clinical characteristics. The results will help CMS to understand the 
user's experience with chiropractic services and with this Medicare 
demonstration; Form Number: CMS-10187 (OMB: 0938-New); 
Frequency: Reporting--Monthly; Affected Public: Individuals or 
Households; Number of Respondents: 2000; Total Annual Responses: 2000; 
Total Annual Hours: 667.
    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/PaperworkReductionActof1995, 
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 May 9, 2006. CMS, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations 
Development--C, Attention: Bonnie L Harkless, Room C4-26-05, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: February 8, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 06-2165 Filed 3-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P