[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 23415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11629]



[[Page 23415]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10169]


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: Revised collection; 
Title of Information Collection: Round 1 Rebid and Disclosure of 
Subcontracting Relationships for the 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 competitively bid DMEPOS items to Medicare 
beneficiaries in a competitive bidding area (CBA). CMS conducted its 
first round of bidding in 2007 which was implemented on July 1, 2008. 
The first round of bidding was subsequently delayed by section 154 of 
the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 
(MIPPA). MIPPA mandates certain changes to the competitive bidding 
program which include, but are not limited to: a delay of Rounds 1 
(bidding to begin in 2009) and 2 of the program (bidding to begin in 
2011); the exclusion of Puerto Rico and negative pressure wound therapy 
(NPWT) from Round 1 and group 3 complex rehabilitative power 
wheelchairs from all rounds of competition; a process for providing 
feedback to suppliers regarding missing financial documentation; and a 
requirement for contract suppliers to disclose to CMS information 
regarding subcontracting relationships.
    For the 2009 round of competitive bidding, also known as the Round 
1 Rebid, CMS will publish a slightly modified version of the Request 
For Bids (RFB) instructions and accompanying forms so that suppliers 
will be better able to identify and understand the requirements to 
submit a bid in the competitive bidding program. We have also modified 
the format of some of these documents to make them more reader-friendly 
and help ease the burden of bid submission.
    Additionally, for suppliers that are awarded a contract, CMS will 
collect information on contract supplier subcontracting relationships. 
Suppliers entering into a contract with CMS must disclose information 
on each subcontracting arrangement that the supplier has to furnish 
items and services under the contract and whether each subcontractor 
meets the accreditation requirements. The purpose of collecting this 
information is to comply with the disclosure requirement on 
subcontractors in section 154 of MIPPA. Form Number: CMS-10169 
(OMB: 0938-1016); Frequency: Reporting--Every three years; 
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 6,900; Total Annual Responses: 
6,900; Total Annual Hours: 442,600. (For policy questions regarding 
this collection contact Walter Rutemueller at 410-786-5395. 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 
proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk 
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on June 18, 2009.

OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer. Fax Number: (202) 395-6974. E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: May 12, 2009.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-11629 Filed 5-14-09; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P