2015-00627. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 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 must be received by March 17, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number (OCN). 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' 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 [e-mail].

3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Reports Clearance Office at [phone].

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-372(S) Annual Report on Home and Community Based Services Waivers and Supporting Regulations

CMS-10500 Outpatient/Ambulatory Surgery Patient Experience of Care Survey (O/ASPECS)

CMS-10221 Site Investigation for Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities (IDTFs)

CMS-R-263 Site Investigation for Suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS)

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 of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Annual Report on Home and Community Based Services Waivers and Supporting Regulations; Use: We use this report to compare actual data to the approved waiver estimates. In conjunction with the waiver compliance review reports, the information provided will be compared to that in the Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS) (CMS-R-284; OMB control number 0938-0345) report and FFP claimed on a state's Quarterly Expenditure Report (CMS-64; OMB control number 0938-1265), to determine whether to continue the state's home and community-based services waiver. States' estimates of cost and utilization for renewal purposes are based upon the data compiled in the CMS-372(S) reports. Form Number: CMS-372(S) (OMB Control Number: 0938-0272); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 48; Total Annual Responses: 315; Total Annual Hours: 13,545. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Ralph Lollar at 410-786-0777).

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Outpatient/Ambulatory Surgery Patient Experience of Care Survey (O/ASPECS); Use: The information collected in the national implementation of Outpatient/Ambulatory Surgery Patient Experience of Care Survey (A/ASPECS) will be used to: (1) Provide a source of information from which selected measures can be publicly reported to beneficiaries to help them make informed decisions for outpatient surgery facility selection; (2) aid facilities with their internal quality improvement efforts and external benchmarking with other facilities; and (3) provide us with information for monitoring and public reporting purposes. Form Number: CMS-10500 (OMB Control Number: 0938-1240); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: Individuals and households; Number of Respondents: 2,813,610; Total Annual Responses: 2,813,610; Total Annual Hours: 365,769. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Memuna Ifedirah at 410-786-6849).

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Site Investigation for Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities (IDTFs); Use: We enroll Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities (IDTFs) into the Medicare program via a uniform application, the CMS 855B. Implementation of enhanced procedures for verifying the enrollment information has improved the enrollment process as well as identified and prevented fraudulent IDTFs from entering the Medicare program. As part of this process, verification of compliance with IDTF performance standards is necessary. The primary function of the site investigation form for IDTFs is to provide a standardized, uniform tool to gather information from an IDTF that tells us whether it meets certain standards to be a IDTF (as found in 42 CFR 410.33(g)) and where it practices or renders its services. The site investigation form has been used in the past to aid in verifying compliance with the required performance standards found in 42 CFR 410.33(g). No revisions have been made to this form since the last submission for OMB approval. Form Number: CMS-10221 (OMB Control Number: 0938-1029); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector (Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 900; Total Annual Responses: 900; Total Annual Hours: 1,800. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Kim McPhillips at 410-786-5374).

4. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Site Investigation for Suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS); Use: We enroll suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) into the Medicare program via a uniform application, the CMS 855S. Implementation of enhanced procedures for verifying the enrollment information has improved the enrollment process as well as identified and prevented fraudulent DMEPOS suppliers from entering the Medicare program. As part of this process, verification of compliance with supplier standards is necessary. The primary function of the site investigation form is to provide a standardized, uniform tool to gather information from a DMEPOS supplier that tells us whether it meets certain qualifications to be a DMEPOS supplier (as found in 42 CFR 424.57(c)) and where it practices or renders its services. The site investigation form has been used in the past to aid in verifying compliance with the required supplier standards found in 42 CFR 424.57(c). No revisions have been made to this form since the last submission for OMB approval. Form Number: CMS-R-263 (OMB Control Number: 0938-0749); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector (Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 30,000; Total Annual Responses: 30,000; Total Annual Hours: 15,000. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Kim McPhillips at 410-786-5374).

Dated: January 13, 2015.

Martique Jones,

Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.