[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 20697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5833]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10193 and CMS-10133]


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: Medicare Clinical Laboratory Services 
Competitive Bidding Demonstration Project--Bidding Form; Use: The 
Medicare Clinical Laboratory Competitive Bidding Demonstration is 
mandated by section 302(b) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, 
Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003. The purpose of the 
demonstration is to determine whether competitive bidding can be used 
to provide quality laboratory services at prices below current Medicare 
reimbursement rates. The application is to collect information from 
organizations that supply clinical laboratory services to Medicare 
beneficiaries in the Competitive Bidding Area (CBA). This information 
will be used to determine bidding status, winners under the bidding 
competition, and the competitively-determined fee schedule for 
demonstration tests. The winning laboratories will be selected based on 
multiple criteria, including price bid, laboratory capacity, service 
area, and quality. Multiple winners are expected in each competitive 
acquisition areas; Form Number: CMS-10193 (OMB: 0938-New); 
Frequency: Reporting--Other: Once every three years; Affected Public: 
Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 80; Total Annual 
Responses: 80; Total Annual Hours: 7010.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Competitive 
Acquisition Program (CAP) for Medicare Part B Drugs: Vendor Application 
and Bid Form; Use: The CAP Vendor Application and Bid Form is a 
collection tool which will be used by potential vendors to provide 
information related to the characteristics of their company and to 
submit their bid prices for CAP drugs. The information collected on the 
CAP Vendor Application and Bid Form will be used by CMS during the 
bidding evaluation process to evaluate the vendors bid prices, their 
credentials, experience and to assess their ability to provide quality 
service to physicians and beneficiaries. Competitive bidding is seen as 
a means of using the dynamics of the marketplace to provide incentives 
for suppliers to provide reasonably priced products and services of 
high quality in an efficient manner. The CAP's objectives include 
providing an alternative method for physicians to obtain Part B drugs 
to administer to Medicare beneficiaries and reducing drug acquisition 
and billing burdens for physicians; Form Number: CMS-10133 
(OMB: 0938-0955); Frequency: Reporting--Other, during the 
bidding process; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number 
of Respondents: 12; Total Annual Responses: 12; Total Annual Hours: 
480.
    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 20, 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: April 12, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E6-5833 Filed 4-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P