00-27525. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Health Care Financing Administration.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), Department of Health and Human Services, 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: Home Health Agency Cost Report and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 413.20, 413.24, and 413.106; Form No.: HCFA-1728-94 (OMB 0938-0022); Use: Form HCFA-1728-94 is the form used by HHAs participating in the Medicare program. This form reports the health care costs used to determine the amount of reimbursable costs for services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries; Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 7,310; Total Annual Responses: 7,310; Total Annual Hours: 1,293,870.

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Skilled Nursing Facility Cost Report and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 413.20 and 413.24; Form No.: HCFA-2540 (OMB 0938-0463); Use: Form HCFA-2540-96 is the form used by skilled nursing facilities participating in the Medicare program. This form reports the health care costs used to determine the amount of reimbursable costs for services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries; Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 15,700; Total Annual Responses: 15,700; Total Annual Hours: 2,685,354.

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Hospital Cost Report and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 413.20 and 413.24; Form No.: HCFA-2552-96 (OMB 0938-0050); Use: Form HCFA-2552-96 is the form used by hospitals participating in the Medicare program. This form reports the health care costs used to determine the amount of reimbursable costs for services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries; Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 6,057; Total Annual Responses: 6,057; Total Annual Hours: 3,981,669.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's Web Site address at http://www.hcfa.gov/​regs/​prdact95.htm,, or E-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and HCFA document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone]. Because of the volume of paper in the cost reporting chapters, please specify whether you want just the portions we are proposing to revise or the entire chapter for the specific HCFA form number.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed within 60 days of this notice directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance Officer designated at the following address: HCFA, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards, Attention: Julie Brown, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

Dated: October 13, 2000.

John P. Burke, III,

Reports Clearance Officer, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.