2015-09592. 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 June 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. 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-10539 Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies (HHA)

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: New collection (Request for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies (HHA); Use: Home health services are covered for the elderly and disabled under the Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Supplemental Medical Insurance (Part B) benefits of the Medicare program, and are described in section 1861(m) of the Social Security Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395x). These services must be furnished by, or under arrangement with, an HHA that participates in the Medicare program, and be provided on a visiting basis in the beneficiary's home. They may include the following:

• Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care furnished by or under the supervision of a registered nurse.
• Physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or occupational therapy.
• Medical social services under the direction of a physician.
• Part-time or intermittent home health aide services.
• Medical supplies (other than drugs and biologicals) and durable medical equipment.
• Services of interns and residents if the HHA is owned by or affiliated with a hospital that has an approved medical education program.
• Services at hospitals, SNFs, or rehabilitation centers when they involve equipment too cumbersome to bring to the home.

Section 1861(o) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) specifies certain requirements that a home health agency must meet to participate in the Medicare program. Existing regulations at 42 CFR 440.70(d) specify that HHAs participating in the Medicaid program must also meet the Medicare CoPs.) In particular, section 1861(o)(6) of the Act requires that an HHA must meet the CoPs specified in section 1891(a) of the Act and such other CoPs as the Secretary finds necessary in the interest of the health and safety of its patients. Section 1891(a) of the Act establishes specific requirements for HHAs in several areas, including patient rights, home health aide training and competency, and compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws.

Under the authority of sections 1861(o), 1871 and 1891 of the Act, the Secretary proposes to establish in regulations the requirements that an HHA must meet to participate in the Medicare program. These requirements would be set forth in 42 CFR part 484 as Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies. The CoPs apply to an HHA as an entity as well as the services furnished to each individual under the care of the HHA, unless a condition is specifically limited to Medicare beneficiaries.

Under section 1891(b) of the Act, the Secretary is responsible for assuring that the CoPs, and their enforcement, are adequate to protect the health and safety of individuals under the care of an HHA and to promote the effective and efficient use of Medicare funds. To implement this requirement, State survey agencies generally conduct surveys of HHAs to determine whether they are complying with the CoPs.

This information collection request is associated with Home Health Agency Conditions of Participation (0938-AG81) which published October 9, 2014. Form Number: CMS-10539 (OMB control number: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 19,474; Total Annual Responses: 32,929,239; Total Annual Hours: 2,786,198. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Danielle Shearer at 410-786-6617.)

Dated: April 21, 2015.

William N. Parham, III,

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