[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 248 (Monday, December 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80771-80772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32435]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers CMS-10079 and CMS-10564]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

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 (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 a second opportunity 
for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to 
send comments regarding the 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 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by January 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections, 
please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be 
assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by 
the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions:

OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-5806 OR, Email: 
OIRA_[email protected].

    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: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(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 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires 
federal agencies to publish a 30-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 that 
summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for 
public comment:
    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.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Home 
Health Face-to-Face Encounter Clinical Templates; Use: The Centers for 
Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) is requesting the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the collection of data required 
to support the eligibility of Medicare home health services. Home 
health services are covered under the Hospital Insurance (Part A) and 
Supplemental Medical Insurance (Part B) benefits of the Medicare 
program. It consists of part-time, medically necessary skilled care

[[Page 80772]]

(nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language 
therapy) that is ordered by a physician. The CMS has developed a list 
of clinical elements within a suggested electronic clinical template 
that would allow electronic health record vendors to create prompts to 
assist physicians when documenting the HH face-to-face encounter for 
Medicare purposes. Once completed by the physician, the resulting 
progress note or clinic note would be part of the medical record. The 
primary users of these new clinical templates will be physicians and/or 
allowed non-physician practitioners (NPPs). The templates will help 
users to capture the necessary information needed to complete the face-
to-face encounter documentation. This will help physicians and/or 
allowed NPPs comply with Medicare policy requirements, thereby reducing 
the possibility of a home health claim not being paid because of 
failure to meet Medicare requirements. It should be noted that this 
information collection request has been revised with non-substantive 
changes since the publication of the 60-day (80 FR 48320) notice. Form 
Number: CMS-10564 (OMB control number: 0938-New); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: Private sector (Business or other For-
profit and Not-for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 
2,926,420; Total Annual Responses: 2,926,420; Total Annual Hours: 
1,220,317. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Kristal Vines at 410-786-0119).

    Dated: December 21, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-32435 Filed 12-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P