[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51572-51573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20577]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-R-245]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is 
announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention 
to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice 
in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding 
our burden estimates 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 functions; (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.
    We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information 
collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of 
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following 
requirements for emergency review. We are, however, requesting an 
emergency review of the information collection reference below. In 
compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) the following requirements for emergency 
review. This is necessary to ensure compliance with an initiative of 
the Administration. We are requesting an emergency review under 5 CFR 
part 1320(a)(2)(i) because public harm is reasonably likely to result 
if the normal clearance procedures are followed. We are seeking 
emergency approval for modifications to the ICR currently approved 
under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 0938-0760, 
entitled Medicare and Medicaid Programs OASIS Collection Requirements 
as Part of the CoPs for HHAs and Supporting Regulations. The revisions 
contained in this request pertain only to the Outcome Assessment and 
Information Set, C-1/ICD-9 Version (OASIS-C1/ICD-9 Version); therefore 
all other requirements in the currently approved PRA package are not 
being revised. The approval of this data collection instrument is 
essential because OASIS data is used in the calculation of provider 
payment as well as for measurement of the quality of care provided by 
Home Health Agencies (HHAs).

DATES: Comments must be received by September 12, 2014.

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or 
OMB control number (OCN). To be assured consideration, comments and 
recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:
    1. Electronically. You may send your comments electronically to 
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for ``Comment or 
Submission'' or ``More Search Options'' to find the information 
collection document(s) that are accepting comments.
    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following 
address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development, Attention: CMS-245/OMB Control 
Number 0938-0760, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21244-1850.
    To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, you may make 
your request using one of following:
    1. Access CMS' Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995.
    2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB 
number, and CMS document identifier, to [email protected].
    3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-
1326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Contents

    This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated 
with the following information collections. More detailed information 
can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated 
materials (see ADDRESSES).

CMS-R-245 Medicare and Medicaid Programs OASIS Collection Requirements 
as Part of the CoPs for HHAs and Supporting Regulations

    Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each 
collection of information they conduct or sponsor. The term 
``collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. In compliance with the requirement of section 
3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have submitted 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following requirements 
for emergency review. This is necessary to ensure compliance with an 
initiative of the Administration. We are requesting an emergency review 
under 5 CFR Part 1320(a)(2)(i) because public harm is reasonably likely 
to result if the normal clearance procedures are followed.

Information Collection

    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; Use: The Outcome and Assessment 
Information Set (OASIS) data set is currently mandated for use by Home 
Health Agencies (HHAs) as a condition of participation (CoP) in the 
Medicare program. Since 1999, the Medicare CoPs have mandated that HHAs 
use the OASIS data set when evaluating adult non-maternity patients 
receiving skilled services. The OASIS is a core standard assessment 
data set that agencies integrate into their own patient-specific, 
comprehensive assessment to identify each patient's need for home care 
that meets the patient's medical, nursing, rehabilitative, social, and 
discharge planning needs.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the OASIS-C1 
information collection request on February 6, 2014. We originally 
planned

[[Page 51573]]

to use OASIS-C1 to coincide with the original implementation of ICD-10 
on October 1, 2014. However, on April 1, 2014, the Protecting Access to 
Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA) (Pub. L. 113-93) was enacted. This 
legislation prohibits CMS from adopting ICD-10 coding prior to October 
1, 2015. Because OASIS-C1 is based on ICD-10 coding, it is not possible 
to implement OASIS-C1 prior to October 1, 2015, when ICD-10 is 
implemented. The passage of the PAMA Act left us with the dilemma of 
how to collect OASIS data in the interim, until ICD-10 is implemented.
    The OASIS-C1/ICD-9 version is an interim version of the OASIS-C1 
data item set that was created in response to the legislatively 
mandated ICD-10 delay. There are five items in OASIS-C1 that require 
ICD-10 codes. In the OASIS-C1/ICD-9 version, these items have been 
replaced with the corresponding items from OASIS-C that use ICD-9 
coding. The OASIS-C1/ICD-9 version also incorporates updated clinical 
concepts, modified item wording and response categories and improved 
item clarity. In addition, the OASIS-C1/ICD-9 version includes a 
significant decrease in provider burden that was accomplished by the 
deletion of a number of non-essential data items from the OASIS-C data 
item set.
    Form Number: CMS-R-245 (OMB control number: 0938-0760); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector (Business or other for-
profit and Not-for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 12,014; 
Total Annual Responses: 17,268,890; Total Annual Hours: 15,305,484. 
(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Caroline 
Gallaher at 410-786-8705.)
    We are requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
September 17, 2014, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments 
and recommendations will be considered from the public if received by 
the date and address noted below.
    Copies of the supporting statement and any related forms can be 
found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995 or can be 
obtained by emailing your request, including your address, phone 
number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to: 
[email protected], or by calling the Reports Clearance at: 410-786-
1326.

    Dated: August 26, 2014.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-20577 Filed 8-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P