2013-04673. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 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) 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 without change of a currently approved collection. Title of Information Collection: Examination and Treatment for Emergency Medical Conditions and Women in Labor (EMTALA), 42 CFR 482.12, 488.18, 489.20, and 489.24. Use: Pursuant to 42 CFR 488.18, 489.20 and 489.24, during Medicare surveys of hospitals and state agencies CMS will review hospital records for lists of on-call physicians, and will review and obtain the information which must be recorded on hospital medical records for individuals with emergency medical conditions and women in labor, and the emergency department reporting information Medicare participating hospitals and Medicare state survey agencies must pass on to CMS. Additionally, CMS will use the Quality Improvement Organizations Report assessing whether an individual had an emergency condition and whether the individual was stabilized to determine whether to impose a civil monetary penalty or physician exclusion sanctions. Without such information, CMS will be unable to make the hospital emergency services compliance determinations that Congress expects us to make under sections 1154, 1866 and 1867 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1985. Form Number: CMS-R-142 (OCN 0938-0667). Frequency: Occasionally. Affected Public: Private Sector (business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions). Number of Respondents: 6.149. Total Annual Responses: 6,149. Total Annual Hours: 6,149. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Renate Dombrowski at 410-786-4645. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

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/​PaperworkReductionActof1995, or Email 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 April 29, 2013:

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: February 25, 2013.

Martique Jones,

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