[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30409-30410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7933]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-372(S), CMS-2746, CMS-10190, CMS-10183, CMS-
2744, CMS-10194, and CMS-10184]


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: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Annual Report on 
Home and Community-Based Services Waivers and Supporting Regulations in 
42 CFR 440.180 and 441.300-310; Use: States with an approved waiver 
under section 1915(c) of the Act are required to submit a report 
annually in order for CMS to: (1) Verify that State assurances 
regarding waiver cost-neutrality are met; and (2) determine the 
waiver's impact on the type, amount, and cost of services provided 
under the State Plan and health and welfare of recipients. Form Number: 
CMS-372(S) (OMB: 0938-0272); Frequency: Annually; Affected 
Public: State, Local or Tribal Government; Number of Respondents: 50; 
Total Annual Responses: 287; Total Annual Hours: 21,525.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: End Stage Renal 
Disease Death Notification Public Law 95-292; 42 CFR 405.2133, 45 CFR 
5-5b; 20 CFR parts 401 and 422E; Use: The ESRD Death Notification (CMS-
2746) is completed by all Medicare-approved ESRD facilities upon the 
death of an ESRD patient. Its primary purpose is to collect fact of 
death and cause of death of ESRD patients. Certain other identifying 
information (e.g., name, Medicare claim number, and date of birth) is 
required for matching purposes. Federal regulations require that the 
ESRD Networks examine the mortality rates of every Medicare-approved 
facility within its area of responsibility. The Death Form provides the 
necessary data to assist the ESRD Networks in making decisions that 
result in improved patient care and in cost-effective distribution of 
ESRD resources. The data is used by the ESRD Networks to verify 
facility deaths and to monitor facility performance. Form Number: CMS-
2746 (OMB: 0938-0448); Frequency: On occasion, weekly; 
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions, Federal government; Number of Respondents: 4,719; Total 
Annual Responses: 75,504; Total Annual Hours: 37,752.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: State Plan 
Preprints to Implement Sections of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 
2006; Use: This information collection is requested in order that 
States can submit State Plan preprints to CMS for review and approval 
to implement the Medicaid program. The DRA provides States with the 
flexibility to request through the use of State Plan preprints changes 
in benefit packages, cost sharing, non-emergency medical transportation 
services, etc. CMS will send State Medicaid Director letters and State 
Plan preprints to States in an effort to request these changes, if they 
so choose, and to make the process as simple as possible.; Form Number: 
CMS-10190 (OMB: 0938-0993); Frequency: Other: One-time; 
Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government; Number of 
Respondents: 56; Total Annual Responses: 56; Total Annual Hours: 56.
    4. Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection; Title of 
Information Collection: National Evaluation of the Demonstration to 
Improve the Direct Service Community Workforce; Use: The purpose of 
this research is to perform a national evaluation of the impact of ten 
demonstration grants awarded by CMS. These demonstration grants support 
various interventions to improve the recruitment and retention of 
direct service workers. The data will permit the national evaluation to 
compare and

[[Page 30410]]

contrast the processes and outcomes of the ten demonstration projects. 
The evaluation will provide an understanding of which types of 
interventions are most likely to be effective under a range of 
circumstances. The data collections consist of six components. From 
participating sites this will include: 200 agencies, 4,000 direct 
service workers, and 4,000 consumers. From control sites this will 
include 50 agencies, 1,333 direct service workers, and 1,333 consumers. 
All data will be collected using mail surveys; Form Number: CMS-10183 
(OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Other: One-time; Affected Public: 
Individuals or Households, Business or other for-profit, and Not-for-
profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 10,916; Total Annual 
Responses: 10,916; Total Annual Hours: 10,916.
    5. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: End Stage Renal 
Disease Medical Information ESRD Facility Survey; Use: The ESRD 
Facility Survey is completed by all Medicare-approved ESRD facilities 
once a year. The survey was designed to collect information concerning 
treatment trends, utilization of services and patterns of practice in 
treating ESRD patients. The aggregate patient information is collected 
from each Medicare-approved provider of dialysis and kidney transplant 
services. The information is used to assess and evaluate the local, 
regional and national levels of medical and social impact of ESRD care 
and are used extensively by researchers and suppliers of services for 
trend analysis. The information is available on the CMS Dialysis 
Facility Compare website and will enable patients to make informed 
decisions about their care by comparing dialysis facilities in their 
area. The ESRD Facility Survey Public Use File is also posted at: 
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ESRDGeneralInformation/02_Data.asp#TopOfPage ; 
Form Number: CMS-2744 (OMB: 0938-0447); Frequency: Reporting--
Annually; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 4,800; Total Annual Responses: 
4,800; Total Annual Hours: 38,400.
    6. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Mail Survey of Medicare Advantage Special Needs 
Plans (SNPs)/Focus Groups with Enrollees of Medicare Advantage SNPs; 
Use: CMS is conducting an evaluation of Medicare Advantage Special 
Needs Plans (SNPs), which includes developing profiles of all SNPs that 
describe the structure and operation of these plans. A one-time short 
mail questionnaire will gather information about SNPs that is not 
available from other sources, such as reason for becoming a SNP, and 
information on care coordination. One-time 90-minute focus groups 
conducted during site visits to 15 SNPs will provide information on 
beneficiary experiences in SNPs, including decision to enroll and use 
of special services.; Form Number: CMS-10194 (OMB: 0938-NEW); 
Frequency: Reporting--One-time; Affected Public: Business or other for-
profit, Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 350; Total 
Annual Responses: 350; Total Annual Hours: 395.
    7. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Payment Error Rate Measurement of Eligibility 
in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); 
Use: The Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA) of 2002 requires CMS 
to produce national error rates for Medicaid and the State Children's 
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). To comply with the IPIA, CMS will use 
a national contracting strategy to produce error rates for Medicaid and 
SCHIP fee-for-service and managed care improper payments. The Federal 
contractor will review states on a rotational basis so that each state 
will be measured for improper payments, in each program, once and only 
once every three years.
    As outlined in the October 5, 2005, interim final rule (70 FR 
58260), CMS convened an eligibility workgroup comprised of the 
Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) and representatives from two states. The Office of 
Inspector General (OIG) participated in an advisory capacity. The 
workgroup was charged to make recommendations for measuring Medicaid 
and SCHIP improper payments based on eligibility errors within the 
confines of current statute, with minimal impact on states' resources 
and considering public comments on the August 27, 2004, proposed rule 
and the October 5, 2005, interim final rule. Based on the eligibility 
workgroup's recommendations and public comments, we developed an 
eligibility review methodology that we expect will provide consistency 
in the reviews of active (i.e., beneficiaries receiving Medicaid or 
SCHIP) and negative cases (i.e., beneficiaries whose benefits were 
denied or terminated) as well as achieve the confidence and precision 
requirements at the national level required by the IPIA.; Form Number: 
CMS-10184 (OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Reporting--On occasion 
and Monthly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-
profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 34; Total Annual Responses: 
715; Total Annual Hours: 448,120.
    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 July 25, 2006.
    CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development--A, Attention: Melissa Musotto, 
Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: May 18, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E6-7933 Filed 5-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P