[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75553-75554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21436]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-684A-I and CMS-10169]


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: End-Stage Renal 
Disease (ESRD) Network Business Proposal Forms and Supporting 
Regulations in 42 CFR 405.2110 and 42 CFR 405.2112; Use: Section 
1881(c) of the Social Security Act establishes ESRD Network contracts. 
The regulations designated at 42 CFR 405.2110 and 405.2112 designated 
18 End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks which are funded by 
renewable contracts. These contracts are on 3-year cycles. To better 
administer the program, CMS requires the contractors to submit a 
standardized business proposal package of forms so that cost proposing 
and pricing among the ESRD Networks will be uniform and easily tracked 
by CMS. Form Number: CMS-684A-I (OMB: 0938-0658); Frequency: 
Reporting--Other, every three years; Affected Public: Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 18; Total Annual Responses: 36; 
Total Annual Hours: 1,080.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Request for Bids (RFB) for Durable Medical 
Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive 
Bidding Program; Use: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
(CMS) will conduct competitive bidding programs in which certain 
suppliers will be awarded contracts to provide certain DMEPOS items to 
Medicare beneficiaries. Competitive bidding provides a way to harness 
marketplace dynamics to create incentives for suppliers to provide 
quality items and services in an efficient manner and at a

[[Page 75554]]

reasonable cost. The objectives of competitive bidding include:
    (1) To implement competitive bidding programs for certain covered 
items of DMEPOS and associated services in select areas;
    (2) to assure beneficiary access to quality DMEPOS as a result of 
the program;
    (3) to reduce the amount Medicare pays for DMEPOS and create a 
payment structure under competitive bidding that is more reflective of 
a competitive market;
    (4) to limit the financial burden on beneficiaries by reducing 
their out-of-pocket expenses for DMEPOS they obtain through the 
program; and,
    (5) to contract with suppliers who conduct business in a manner 
that is beneficial for the program and Medicare beneficiaries.
    Contract suppliers will be selected from the suppliers that have 
the lowest bids and that meet all relevant program requirements. 
Suppliers bidding above the winning price are to be excluded from the 
Medicare market; however, multiple winners must be awarded in each 
site. The forms associated with this collection of information will 
collect all of the relevant information needed for processing bids.
    Following the publication of the 60-day Federal Register notice (71 
FR 26546), we received a considerable number of public comments. 
Commenters discussed a variety of topics, ranging from the general 
requirements of the forms to the availability of instructions for 
completing the forms. After reviewing the comments, we revised the 
information collection request (ICR) to clarify the issues raised by 
the public. In addition, instructions for completing the forms are 
complete and available for public viewing. Form Number: CMS-10169 
(OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Reporting--Every three years; 
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions, and the Federal government; Number of Respondents: 
23,973; Total Annual Responses: 23,973; Total Annual Hours: 1,088,164.
    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: December 7, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E6-21436 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P