2015-02413. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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 (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 a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 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.

DATES:

Comments on the collection(s) of information must be received by the OMB desk officer by March 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting on the proposed information collections, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax Number: [phone] or Email: [e-mail].

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:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (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 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires federal agencies to publish a 30-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 that summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for public comment:

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare and Medicaid Programs OASIS Collection Requirements as Part of the CoPs for HHAs and Supporting Regulations; Use: The Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) data set is currently mandated for use by Home Health Agencies (HHAs) as a condition of participation (CoP) in the Medicare program. Since 1999, the Medicare CoPs have mandated that HHAs use the OASIS data set when evaluating adult non-maternity patients receiving skilled services. The OASIS is a core standard assessment data set that agencies integrate into their own patient-specific, comprehensive assessment to identify each patient's need for home care that meets the patient's medical, nursing, rehabilitative, social, and discharge planning needs.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the OASIS-C1 information collection request on February 6, 2014. We originally planned to use OASIS-C1 to coincide with the original implementation of ICD-10 on October 1, 2014. However, on April 1, 2014, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA) (Pub. L. 113-93) was enacted. This legislation prohibits CMS from adopting ICD-10 coding prior to October 1, 2015. Because OASIS-C1 is based on ICD-10 coding, it is not possible to implement OASIS-C1 prior to October 1, 2015, when ICD-10 is implemented. The passage of the PAMA Act left us with the dilemma of how to collect OASIS data in the interim, until ICD-10 is implemented.

The OASIS-C1/ICD-9 version is an interim version of the OASIS-C1 data item set that was created in response to the legislatively mandated ICD-10 delay. There are five items in OASIS-C1 that require ICD-10 codes. In the OASIS-C1/ICD-9 version, these items have been replaced with the corresponding items from OASIS-C that use ICD-9 coding. The OASIS-C1/ICD-9 version also incorporates updated clinical concepts, modified item wording and response categories and improved item clarity. In addition, the OASIS-C1/ICD-9 version includes a significant decrease in provider burden that was accomplished by the deletion of a number of non-essential data items from the OASIS-C data item set. Form Number: CMS-R-245 (OMB control number: 0938-0760); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private sector—business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 12,014; Total Annual Responses: 17,268,890; Total Annual Hours: 15,305,484. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Cheryl Wiseman at 410-786-1175.)

Dated: February 3, 2015.

William N. Parham, III,

Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.