[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43135-43136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17945]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier CMS-R-131]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
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 (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 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 must be received by October 21, 2019.
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 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' website address at website 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 N. Parham at (410) 786-4669.
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-131 Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN)
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 without change
of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection:
Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN); Use: The use of the
written Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage (ABN) is to inform
Medicare beneficiaries of their liability under specific conditions.
This has been available since the ``limitation on liability''
provisions in section 1879 of the Social Security Act (the Act) were
enacted in 1972 (Pub. L. 92-603). ABNs are not given every time items
and services are delivered. Rather, ABNs are
[[Page 43136]]
given only when a physician, provider, practitioner, or supplier
anticipates that Medicare will not provide payment in specific cases.
An ABN may be given, and the beneficiary may subsequently choose
not to receive the item or service. An ABN may also be issued because
of other applicable statutory requirements other than Sec. 1862(a)(1)
such as when a beneficiary wants to obtain an item from a supplier who
has not met Medicare supplier number requirements, as listed in section
1834(j)(1) of the Act or when statutory requirements for issuance
specific to HHAs are applicable.
ABNs are usually given as hard copy notices during in-person
patient encounters. In some cases, notification may be done by
telephone with a follow-up notice mailed. Electronic issuance of ABNs
is permitted as long as the beneficiary is offered the option to
receive a paper copy of the notice if this is preferred. Regardless of
the mode of delivery, the beneficiary must receive a copy of the signed
ABN for his/her own records. Incorporation of ABNs into other automated
business processes is permitted, and some limited flexibility in
formatting the notice in such cases is allowed, as discussed in the
form instructions. Notifiers may choose to store the required signed
copy of the ABN electronically. Form Number: CMS-R-131 (OMB control
number: 0938-0566); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local,
or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 1,589,060; Total Annual
Responses: 382,216,385; Total Annual Hours: 44,593,186. (For policy
questions regarding this collection contact Jennifer McCormick at 410-
786-2852.)
Dated: August 15, 2019.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-17945 Filed 8-19-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P