01-21676. Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.

In an effort to revise the current Hospital and Health Care Complex Cost Report, we are interested in receiving public comments to help aid in making the necessary revisions to this cost report. 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.

Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Hospital and Health Care Complex Cost Report and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 413.20 and 413.24; Form No.: CMS-2552-96 (OMB 0938-0050); Use: Form CMS-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; and State, Local or Tribal Government; Number of Respondents: 6,038; Total Annual Responses: 6,038; Total Annual Hours: 4,274,105.

To obtain a copy of the forms and related materials for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS'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 CMS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone]. The revised “Hospital and Health Care Complex Cost Report” will be available after the close of this solicitation, at which time, we will publish a subsequent 60-day Federal Register notice announcing the revisions and canvassing public comment before submitting to OMB. Written comments and recommendations for the solicitation must be mailed within 60 days of this notice directly to the CMS Paperwork Clearance Officer designated at the following address: CMS, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise Standards, Attention: Dawn Willinghan, CMS-2552-96, Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

Dated: August 21, 2001.

John P. Burke III,

CMS Reports Clearance Officer, CMS Office of Information Service, Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise Standards.