[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 44 (Monday, March 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10050-10051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4883]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-R-245]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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), 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: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare and 
Medicaid Programs OASIS Collection Requirements as Part of the CoPs for 
HHAs and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR, Sections 484.55, 484.205, 
484.245, 484.250; Use: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is 
requesting OMB approval to modify the Outcome and Assessment 
Information Set (OASIS) data set that home health agencies (HHAs) are 
required to collect in order to participate in the Medicare program. 
Proposed revisions to the OASIS data set include: (1) Issues raised by 
stakeholders, including removing items that are not currently used by 
CMS for payment or quality, adding items to address clinical domains 
not currently covered, and modifying item wording or response 
categories for selected items; and (2) the addition of process items 
that support measurement of evidence-based practices. Proposed 
revisions to OASIS items address issues raised by stakeholders, 
including removing items that are not currently used by CMS for payment 
or quality, adding items to address clinical domains not currently 
covered, and modifying item wording or response categories for selected 
items. These changes and item deletions are considered to be high 
priority by CMS and have implications for outcome measurement, risk 
adjustment of outcome reports, case mix adjustment for prospective 
payment, data submission procedures and specifications, reporting 
systems, and provider paperwork burden.
    In addition, adopting measures of efficient and high-quality care 
is central to the direction that CMS would like to take in its Quality 
Initiative. In accordance with long-standing Federal objectives, CMS 
ultimately plans to create a standard patient assessment instrument 
that can be used across all post-acute care settings. The revision of 
the OASIS instrument is an opportunity to consider various components 
of quality care and how patients might be better served as they (and 
information about them and their care) move among health care settings. 
For this reason, the OASIS C includes process items that support 
measurement of evidence-based practices across the post-acute care 
spectrum that have been shown to prevent exacerbation of serious 
conditions, can improve care received by individual patients, and can 
provide

[[Page 10051]]

guidance to agencies on how to improve care and avoid adverse events. 
Form Number: CMS-R-245 (OMB 0938-0760); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and not-
for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 10,170; Total Annual 
Responses: 14,960,070; Total Annual Hours: 15,590,610.
    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 by the OMB desk 
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on April 8, 2009.

OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

    Attention: CMS Desk Officer.
    Fax Number: (202) 395-6974.
    E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: March 3, 2009.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-4883 Filed 3-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-U-P