[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61212-61213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25809]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-10079]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health 
and Human Services.

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 (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an 
existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public 
comment on the proposed action. 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.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or 
OMB control number. 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

[[Page 61213]]

Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, 
Attention: Document Identifier/OMB Control Number __, 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-10079 Hospital Wage Index Occupational Mix Survey and Supporting 
Regulations in 42 CFR, Section 412.64

    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. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires federal agencies 
to publish a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each 
proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension 
or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, before 
submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this 
requirement, CMS is publishing this notice.

Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension 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 three 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. For 
example, hospitals may choose to employ different combinations of 
registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing aides, and 
medical assistants for the purpose of providing nursing care to their 
patients. The varying labor costs associated with these choices reflect 
hospital management decisions rather than geographic differences in the 
costs of labor. The FY 2016 survey will provide for the collection of 
hospital-specific wages and hours data for calendar year 2016 (that is, 
payroll periods ending between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016). 
The 2016 Medicare occupational mix survey will be applied beginning 
with the FY 2019 wage index. Form Number: CMS-10079 (OMB control 
number: 0938-0907); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private sector 
(Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions), State, 
Local and Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 3,400; Total 
Annual Responses: 3,400; Total Annual Hours: 1,632,000. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact Noel Manlove at 410-786-
5161.

    Dated: October 6, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-25809 Filed 10-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P