[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 68 (Friday, April 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16401-16402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8223]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10275]


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: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: CAHPS Home Health Care Survey: Use: As part of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Transparency 
Initiative on Quality Reporting, CMS plans to implement a process to 
measure and publicly report home health care patient experiences 
through the CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and 
Systems) Home Health Care Survey. The Home Health Care CAHPS survey, as 
initially discussed in the May 4, 2007 Federal Register (72 FR 25356, 
25452), is part of a family of CAHPS [reg] surveys that ask 
patients about their health care experiences. The Home Health Care 
CAHPS survey, developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality (AHRQ), creates a standardized survey for home health patients 
to assess their home health care providers and the quality of their 
home health care. Prior to this survey, there was no national standard 
for collecting such information that would allow comparisons across all 
home health agencies.
    AHRQ conducted a field test to determine the length and content of 
the Home Health Care CAHPS Survey. CMS has submitted the survey to the 
National Quality Forum (NQF) for consideration and approval in their 
consensus process. NQF endorsement represents the consensus opinion of 
many healthcare providers, consumer groups, professional organizations, 
purchasers, Federal agencies, and research and quality organizations. 
The final survey will also be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for their approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 
process.
    The survey captures topics such as patients' interactions with the 
agency, access to care, interactions with home health staff, provider 
care and communication, and patient characteristics. The survey allows 
the patient to give an overall rating of the agency, and asks if the 
patient would recommend the agency to family and friends.
    CMS is beginning plans for implementation of Home Health Care CAHPS 
Survey. Administration of the survey will be conducted by multiple, 
independent survey vendors working under contract with home health 
agencies to facilitate data collection and reporting. Recruitment and 
training of vendors who wish to be approved to collect Home Health Care 
CAHPS data will begin in 2009. Home health agencies interested in 
learning about the survey and/or voluntarily participating in the 
survey are encouraged to view the Home Health Care CAHPS Web site: 
http://www.homehealthCAHPS.org. Information about the project can also 
be obtained by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
    Home health agency participation in the Home Health Care CAHPS 
Survey is currently voluntary. Form Number: CMS-10275 (OMB 
0938-New); Frequency: Semi-annually, once and occasionally; Affected 
Public: Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 2,706,000; 
Total Annual Responses: 2,706,000; Total Annual Hours: 541,200. (For 
policy questions regarding this collection contact Elizabeth Goldstein 
at 410-786-6665. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    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

[[Page 16402]]

proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk 
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on May 11, 2009.
    OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS 
Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: April 3, 2009.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-8223 Filed 4-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P