[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19522-19523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5408]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-R-05, CMS-R-72, CMS-10175, CMS 10050, CMS-
1957, CMS-1515 & 1572]


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 
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: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Physician 
Certifications/Recertifications in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) 
Manual Instructions and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 424.20; Use: 
Regulations at 42 CFR 424.20 require SNFs to keep record of physician 
certifications and recertifications of information such as the need for 
care and services, estimated duration of the SNF stay, and plan for 
home care. As a condition for Medicare Part A payment for post-hospital 
skilled nursing facility (SNF) services, the Medicare program requires 
that a physician certify and periodically recertify that a beneficiary 
requires an SNF level of care. The physician certification and 
recertification is intended to ensure that the beneficiary's need for 
services has been established and then reviewed and updated at 
appropriate intervals; Form Number: CMS-R-05 (OMB: 0938-0454); 
Frequency: Recordkeeping and Reporting--On occasion; Affected Public: 
State, Local or Tribal governments, Individuals or Households, Business 
or other for-profit

[[Page 19523]]

and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 2,458,549; 
Total Annual Responses: 981,642; Total Annual Hours: 547,578.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Information 
Collection Requirements in 42 CFR 478.18, 478.34, 478.36, 478.42, QIO 
Reconsiderations and Appeals; Use: In the event that a beneficiary, 
provider, physician, or other practitioner does not agree with the 
initial determination of a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) or a 
QIO subcontractor, it is within that party's rights to request 
reconsideration. The information collection requirements 42 CFR 478.18, 
478.34, 478.36, and 478.42, contain procedures for QIOs to use in 
reconsideration of initial determinations. The information requirements 
contained in these regulations are on QIOs to provide information to 
parties requesting the reconsideration. These parties will use the 
information as guidelines for appeal rights in instances where issues 
are actively being disputed.; Form Number: CMS-R-72 (OMB: 
0938-0443); Frequency: Reporting--On occasion; Affected Public: 
Individuals or Households and Business or other for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 2,590; Total Annual Responses: 
5,228; Total Annual Hours: 2,822.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Certification 
Statement for Electronic File Interchange Organizations (EFIOS) that 
Submit National Provider Identifier (NPI) Data to the National Plan and 
Enumeration System; Use: The EFI process is designed to allow 
organizations to submit NPI application information for large numbers 
of providers in a single file. Once it has obtained and formatted the 
necessary provider data, the EFIO will electronically submit the file 
to NPPES for processing. As each file can contain up to approximately 
100,000 records, or provider applications, the EFI process greatly 
reduces the paperwork and overall administrative burden associated with 
enumerating providers; Form Number: CMS-10175 (OMB: 0938-
0984); Frequency: Reporting--Other, One-time; Affected Public: Business 
or other for-profit, and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 1000; Total Annual Responses: 1000; Total Annual Hours: 
3000.
    4. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Survey of Newly 
Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries; Use: CMS is responsible for providing 
beneficiaries with the Medicare program information they need to 
effectively choose the health care plan best suited to their needs. In 
order to provide such information, CMS needs to know (1) Whether or not 
new enrollees are aware of the choices they have, (2) what 
beneficiaries understand about the basic elements of the Medicare 
program, (3) what other sources currently provide Medicare-related 
information, and (4) how all of these items vary across beneficiary 
subpopulations. To this end, CMS must have the ability to measure over 
time what beneficiaries know and understand about the Medicare program. 
Measuring beneficiaries' information needs and knowledge over time will 
help CMS evaluate its impact on information/education, population 
changes and other initiatives; Form Number: CMS-10050 (OMB: 
0938-0869); Frequency: Reporting--Quarterly; Affected Public: 
Individuals or Households; Number of Respondents: 2400; Total Annual 
Responses: 2400; Total Annual Hours: 800.
    5. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: SSO Report of 
State Buy-in Problem and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 407.40; Use: 
Under the State Buy-In program, States enroll certain groups of needy 
people under the Part B Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Program 
and pay their premiums. The purpose of the ``buy-in'' is to allow the 
States to provide SMI protection to certain groups of needy individuals 
as part of its total assistance plan. Generally, States ``buy-in'' for 
individuals who are categorically needy under Medicaid and meet the 
eligibility requirements for Medicare Part B. States can also include 
in their buy-in agreement those eligible for medical assistance only. 
The CMS-1957 is used in the resolution of beneficiary complaints 
regarding State buy-in. This form facilitates the coordination of 
efforts between the SSO, State Medicaid Agencies, and CMS in the 
resolution of a beneficiary's State buy-in problem; Form Number: CMS-
1957 (OMB: 0938-0035); Frequency: Reporting--On occasion; 
Affected Public: Federal government, Individuals or Households, and 
State, Local, and Tribal governments; Number of Respondents: 6,600; 
Total Annual Responses: 6,600; Total Annual Hours: 2,366.
    6. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Home Health 
Agency Survey and Deficiencies Report, Home Health Functional 
Assessment Instrument and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 488.26 and 
442.30; Use: In order to participate in the Medicare program as a Home 
Health Agency (HHA) provider, the HHA must meet Federal Standards. 
These forms used to record information about patients' health and 
provider compliance with requirement and report information to the 
Federal Government; Form Number: CMS-1515 & 1572 (OMB: 0938-
0355); Frequency: Reporting--Annually; Affected Public: Business or 
other for-profit, Individuals or Households, and Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 24,150; Total Annual Responses: 
24,150; Total Annual Hours: 3,864.
    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 June 13, 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: April 4, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E6-5408 Filed 4-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P