[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 40 (Thursday, March 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12363-12364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04160]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-R-39]


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 and Medicaid Services (CMS) is 
requesting that an information collection request (ICR) related to the 
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Conditions of Participation for Home 
Health Agencies (HHAs) and Supporting Regulations at 42 CFR part 484, 
be processed under the emergency clearance process associated with 5 
CFR 1320.13(a)(2)(i). Public harm is reasonably likely to ensue if the 
normal, non-emergency clearance procedures are followed. The approval 
of this information collection package is necessary because in the 
absence of such approval CMS will be unable to effectively enforce 
these essential health and safety requirements. Among other things, CMS 
will be unable to enforce requirements that HHAs must provide a notice 
of rights to each patient, assure the proper training of home health 
aides before those aides provide hands-on care to patients, and 
disclose the names and addresses of all individuals with an ownership 
or management position so that we can assure that those with a history 
of fraud are not involved in HHA operations. Being unable to enforce 
these rules would harm patient health and safety, as well as create 
risks to the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
    Under the PRA, federal agencies are required to publish notice in 
the Federal Register concerning each proposed ICR. Interested persons 
are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any 
other aspect of this ICR including the necessity and utility of the 
proposed ICR for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the 
accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected and the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology to 
minimize the information collection burden.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier 
(CMS-R-39) or OMB control number (0938-0365). 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-R-39/OMB Control 
Number 0938-0365, 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: 

[[Page 12364]]

Contents

    This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated 
with the following ICR. More detailed information can be found in the 
collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see 
ADDRESSES).
CMS-R-39 Home Health Conditions of Participation (CoP) 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. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this 
notice that summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of 
information for public comment:

Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension without change 
of a previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: 
Home Health Conditions of Participation (CoP) and Supporting 
Regulations; Use: The information collection requirements contained in 
this request are part of the requirements classified as the conditions 
of participation (CoPs) which are based on criteria prescribed in law 
and are standards designed to ensure that each facility has properly 
trained staff to provide the appropriate safe physical environment for 
patients. These particular standards reflect comparable standards 
developed by industry organizations such as the Joint Commission on 
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and the Community Health 
Accreditation Program. We will use this information along with state 
agency surveyors, the regional home health intermediaries and home 
health agencies (HHAs) for the purpose of ensuring compliance with 
Medicare CoPs as well as ensuring the quality of care provided by HHA 
patients. Form Numbers: CMS-R-39 (OMB control number: 0938-0365); 
Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Business or for-profits and 
Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal governments; 
Number of Respondents: 13,577; Total Annual Responses: 20,202,576; 
Total Annual Hours: 6,422,694. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Danielle Shearer at 410-786-6617.)

    Dated: February 28, 2017.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-04160 Filed 3-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P