05-13866. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; 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), 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 function; (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: Medicare CAHPS Disenrollment Surveys and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 417.126, 417.470, 422.64, and 422.210; Use: This survey helps track a variety of consumer satisfaction measures relating to Medicare beneficiaries who leave their MA plans. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a responsibility to its Medicare beneficiaries to require that care provided by managed care organizations under contract to CMS is of high quality. One way of ensuring high quality care is through the development of performance measures and standardized satisfaction surveys that enable CMS to gather the data needed to evaluate the care provided to Medicare beneficiaries; Form Number: CMS-R-295 (OMB#: 0938-0779; Frequency: Quarterly; Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Number of Respondents: 44,200; Total Annual Responses: 41,697; Total Annual Hours: 17,823.

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Home and Community-Based Waiver Requests and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 440.180 and 441.300-.310; Use: Under a Secretarial waiver, States may offer a wide array of home and community-based services to individuals who would otherwise require institutionalization. States requesting a waiver must provide certain assurances, documentation and cost & utilization estimates which are reviewed, approved and maintained for the purpose of identifying/verifying States' compliance with such statutory and regulatory requirements; Form Number: CMS-8003 (OMB#: 0938-0449); Frequency: Other: when a State requests a waiver or amendment to a waiver; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government; Number of Respondents: 50; Total Annual Responses: 132; Total Annual Hours: 7,930.

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/​regulations/​pra/​,, 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].

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed within 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB desk officer: OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Christopher Martin, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235,Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: July 5, 2005.

Michelle Shortt,

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