[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 21811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08329]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Parts 431, 433, 435, 441, and 483

[CMS-2418-N]
RIN 0938-AT95


Medicaid Program; Preadmission Screening and Resident Review; 
Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for the proposed rule 
entitled ``Medicaid Program; Preadmission Screening and Resident 
Review'' that appeared in the February 20, 2020 Federal Register. The 
comment period for the proposed rule, which would end on April 20, 
2020, is extended 30 days to May 20, 2020.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule (85 FR 9990) is 
extended to 5 p.m., eastern daylight time, on May 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments as outlined in the February 20, 2020 
proposed rule (85 FR 9990). Please choose only one method listed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Blackfield, (410) 786-8518.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the ``Medicaid Program; Preadmission 
Screening and Resident Review'' proposed rule that appeared in the 
February 20, 2020 Federal Register (85 FR 9990), we solicited public 
comments on proposed policies that aim to modernize the requirements 
for Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR), currently 
referred to in regulation as Preadmission Screening and Annual Resident 
Review, by including statutory changes, reflecting updates to 
diagnostic criteria for mental illness and intellectual disability, 
reducing duplicative requirements and other administrative burdens on 
State PASRR programs, and making the process more streamlined and 
person-centered.
    Since the issuance of the proposed rule, the United States and its 
citizens have endured a dramatic upheaval to our way of life as a 
result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The federal and state 
governments, as well as private businesses, have made drastic but 
necessary decisions to restrict access to buildings, businesses, and 
transportation to slow the spread of the disease. As a result, many 
workplaces are dealing with changed priorities, new work procedures, 
and a limited workforce. We acknowledge the difficulties the current 
situation presents, including the limited ability of states and 
stakeholders to analyze and respond to our proposed rule. To maximize 
the opportunity for the public to provide meaningful input to CMS, we 
believe that it is important to allow additional time for the public to 
prepare comments on the proposed rule. In addition, we believe that 
granting an extension to the public comment period in this instance 
would further our overall objective to obtain public input on the 
proposed provisions to modernize PASRR requirements. Therefore, we are 
extending the comment period for the proposed rule for an additional 30 
days.
    The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS), Seema Verma, having reviewed and approved this document, 
authorizes Evell J. Barco Holland, who is the Federal Register Liaison, 
to electronically sign this document for purposes of publication in the 
Federal Register.

Evell J. Barco Holland,
Federal Register Liaison, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-08329 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P