[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37583-37584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10274]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10133, CMS-10050, and CMS-1515 and 1572]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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), Department of Health and Human Services, 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 function; (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: 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.
    2. 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

[[Page 37584]]

Households; Number of Respondents: 2400; Total Annual Responses: 2400; 
Total Annual Hours: 800.
    3. 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 are 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.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collections must be mailed or faxed within 30 days of this notice 
directly to the OMB desk officer: OMB Human Resources and Housing 
Branch, Attention: Carolyn Lovett, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503. Fax Number: (202) 395-6974.

    Dated: June 21, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E6-10274 Filed 6-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P