[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43378-43379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19521]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-R-138 and CMS-10332]


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

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 (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 the necessity and utility of the 
proposed information collection 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by October 16, 2017.

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 https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html.
    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: William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

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: Medicare 
Geographic Classification Review Board Procedures and Criteria; Use: 
During the first few years of IPPS, hospitals were paid strictly based 
on their physical geographic location concerning the wage index 
(Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)) and the standardized amount 
(rural, other urban, or large urban). However, a growing number of 
hospitals became concerned that their payment rates were not providing 
accurate compensation. The hospitals argued that they were not 
competing with the hospitals in their own geographic area, but instead 
that they were competing with hospitals in neighboring geographic 
areas. At that point, Congress enacted Section 1886(d)(10) of the Act 
which enabled hospitals to apply to be considered part of neighboring 
geographic areas for payment purposes based on certain criteria. The 
application and decision process is administered by the MGCRB which is 
not a part of CMS so that CMS could not be accused of any untoward

[[Page 43379]]

action. However, CMS needs to remain apprised of any potential payment 
changes. Hospitals are required to provide CMS with copy of any 
applications that they made to the MGCRB. CMS also developed the 
guidelines for the MGCRB that were the interim final issue of the 
Federal Register, and must ensure that the MGCRB properly applied the 
guidelines. This check and balance process also contributes to limiting 
the number of hospitals that ultimately need to appeal their MGCRB 
decisions to the CMS Administrator. Form Number: CMS-R-138 (OMB control 
number: 0938-0573); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: 
Businesses or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number 
of Respondents: 300; Total Annual Responses: 300; Total Annual Hours: 
300. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Noel 
Manlove at 410-786-5161.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Disclosure 
Requirement for the In-Office Ancillary Services Exception; Use: 
Section 6003 of the ACA established a disclosure requirement for the 
in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition of physician 
self-referral for certain imaging services. This section of the ACA 
amended section 1877(b)(2) of the Social Security Act by adding a 
requirement that the referring physician informs the patient, at the 
time of the referral and in writing, that the patient may receive the 
imaging service from another supplier. The implementing regulations are 
at 42 CFR 411.355(b)(7).
    Physicians who provide certain imaging services (MRI, CT, and PET) 
under the in-office ancillary services exception to the physician self-
referral prohibition are required to provide the disclosure notice as 
well as the list of other imaging suppliers to the patient. The patient 
will then be able to use the disclosure notice and list of suppliers in 
making an informed decision about his or her course of care for the 
imaging service. CMS would use the collected information for 
enforcement purposes. Specifically, if we were investigating the 
referrals of a physician providing advanced imaging services under the 
in-office ancillary services exception, we would review the written 
disclosure in order to determine if it satisfied the requirement. Form 
Number: CMS-10332 (OMB control number: 0938-1133); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; 
Number of Respondents: 7,100; Total Annual Responses: 759,700; Total 
Annual Hours: 19,638. (For policy questions regarding this collection 
contact Laura Dash at 410-786-8623.)

    Dated: September 11, 2017.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-19521 Filed 9-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P