E8-25925. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Survey Report Form for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 493.1-493.2001; Use: This form is used by the State to determine a laboratory's compliance with CLIA. This information is needed for a laboratory's CLIA certification and recertification. Form Number: CMS-1557 (OMB# 0938-0544); Frequency: Biennially; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions, State, Local or Tribal Governments and Federal Government; Number of Respondents: 21,000; Total Annual Responses: 10,500; Total Annual Hours: 5,248.

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Rehabilitation Unit Criteria Worksheet and Rehabilitation Hospital Criteria Worksheet; Use: The rehabilitation hospital and rehabilitation unit criteria worksheets are necessary to verify that these facilities/units comply and remain in compliance with the exclusion criteria for the Medicare prospective payment system. Form Number: CMS-437A and 437B (OMB# 0938-0986); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 1227; Total Annual Responses: 1227; Total Annual Hours: 307.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS's Web Site 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].

In commenting on the proposed information collections please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of the following ways by December 30, 2008:

1. Electronically. You may submit 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) 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.

Dated: October 23, 2008.

Michelle Shortt,

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