[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 2548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-712]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-588, CMS-10079 and CMS-10311]


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: Reinstatement without 
change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information 
Collection: Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement; Use: 
Section 1815(a) of the Social Security Act provides the authority for 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to pay providers/suppliers 
of Medicare services at such time or times as the Secretary determines 
appropriate (but no less frequently than monthly). Under Medicare, CMS, 
acting for the Secretary, contracts with Fiscal Intermediaries and 
Carriers to pay claims submitted by providers/suppliers who furnish 
services to Medicare beneficiaries. Under CMS' payment policy, Medicare 
providers/suppliers have the option of receiving payments 
electronically. Form number CMS-588 authorizes the use of electronic 
fund transfers (EFTs). Form Number: CMS-588 (OMB: 0938-0626); 
Frequency: Reporting--On occasion; Affected Public: Business or other 
for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 
100,000; Total Annual Responses: 100,000; Total Annual Hours: 100,000. 
(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Kim McPhillips 
at 410-786-5374. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Hospital Wage 
Index Occupational Mix Survey and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR, 
Section 412.64; Use: Section 304(c) of Public Law 106-554 amended 
section 1886(d) (3) (E) of the Social Security Act to require CMS to 
collect data every 3 years on the occupational mix of employees for 
each short-term, acute care hospital participating in the Medicare 
program, in order to construct an occupational mix adjustment to the 
wage index, for application beginning October 1, 2004 (the FY 2005 wage 
index). The purpose of the occupational mix adjustment is to control 
for the effect of hospitals' employment choices on the wage index. 
Refer to the summary of changes document for a list of current changes. 
Form Number: CMS-10079 (OMB: 0938-0907); Frequency: 
Reporting--Yearly, Biennially and Occasionally ; Affected Public: 
Private Sector--Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 3,522; Total Annual Responses: 
3,522; Total Annual Hours: 1,690,560. (For policy questions regarding 
this collection contact Taimyra Jones at 410-786-1562. For all other 
issues call 410-786-1326.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Medicare Program/Home Health Prospective 
Payment System Rate Update for Calendar Year 2010: Physician Narrative 
Requirement and Supporting Regulation in 42 CFR 424.22; Use: The 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require that a 
physician sign every patient's individual plan of care certifying or 
recertifying that the patient is homebound and the planned services are 
medically necessary in order for the home health agency to be 
reimbursed for Medicare covered services as stipulated in 42 CFR 
424.22. CMS is relying on physicians to fulfill a role that is 
sometimes thought of as a ``gatekeeper'' by requiring the physician to 
provide a narrative located within the home health certification or 
recertification when skilled nursing management & evaluation of the 
plan of care, (PoC) is ordered. The physician's narrative is required 
when a patient's underlying condition or complication requires a 
registered nurse to ensure that essential non-skilled care is achieving 
its purpose, The narrative must be located immediately prior to the 
physician's signature. If the narrative exists as an addendum to the 
certification or recertification form, in addition to the physician's 
signature on the certification or recertification form, the physician 
must sign immediately following the narrative in the addendum. This 
change supports Medicare's home health coverage criteria for skilled 
services as stipulated in the CFR, (see 42 CFR 409.42). Form Number: 
CMS-10311 (OMB: 0938-New); Frequency: Annually; Affected 
Public: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; 
Number of Respondents: 345,600; Total Annual Responses: 345,600; Total 
Annual Hours: 28,800. (For policy questions regarding this collection 
contact Randy Throndset at 410-786-0131. 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 February 16, 
2010. OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS 
Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: January 8, 2010.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-712 Filed 1-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P