E6-22570. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate 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.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Important Message from Medicare Use: Requirements that hospitals notify beneficiaries in inpatient hospital settings of their rights as a hospital patient including their discharge appeal rights are referenced in Section 1866(a)(1)(M) of the Social Security Act. The authority for the right to an expedited determination is set forth at Section 1869(c)(3)(C)(iii)(III) of the Act. Under sections 42 CFR 405.1205 and 422.620, the hospital must deliver valid, written notice, the Important Message from Medicare (IM), of a patient's rights as a hospital patient including the discharge appeal rights, within 2 calendar days of admission. A follow-up copy of the signed IM is given again as far as possible in advance of discharge, but no more than 2 calendar days before. Follow-up notice is not required if the provision of the admission IM, falls within 2 calendar days of discharge. Form Number: CMS-R-193 (OMB #: 0938-0692); Frequency: Reporting: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 6,000; Total Annual Responses: 13,000,000; Total Annual Hours: 2,990,000.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/​PaperworkReductionActof1995,, or e-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone].

To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be received at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on March 6, 2007.

CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development—C, Attention: Bonnie L Harkless, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

Dated: December 27, 2006.

Michelle Shortt,

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