[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9502-9503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3779]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Part 424

[CMS-1510-F2]
RIN 0938-AP88


Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate 
Update for Calendar Year 2011; Changes in Certification Requirements 
for Home Health Agencies and Hospices; Correction

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

[[Page 9503]]


ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY: In the November 17, 2010 issue of the Federal Register, we 
published a final rule that set forth an update to the Home Health 
Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) rates, including: The national 
standardized 60-day episode rates, the national per-visit rates, the 
nonroutine medical supply (NRS) conversion factors, and the low 
utilization payment amount (LUPA) add-on payment amounts, under the 
Medicare prospective payment system for HHAs. This correcting amendment 
corrects a technical error identified in the November 17, 2010 final 
rule.

DATES: Effective Date: This correcting amendment is effective February 
18, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Throndset, (410) 786-0131.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In FR Doc. 2010-27778 (75 FR 70372), the final rule entitled 
``Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update 
for Calendar Year 2011; Changes in Certification Requirements for Home 
Health Agencies and Hospices'' (hereinafter referred to as the CY 2011 
HH PPS final rule), there was a technical error that is identified and 
corrected in the regulations text of this correcting amendment. The 
provisions of this correcting amendment are effective January 1, 2011.

II. Summary of Errors in the Regulations Text

    On page 70464 of the CY 2011 HH PPS final rule, we made a technical 
error in the regulation text of Sec.  424.22(b)(1). That language 
inadvertently deleted paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii). Accordingly, we 
are adding those paragraphs in this correcting amendment.

III. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking and Delay in Effective Date

    We ordinarily publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 
Federal Register to provide a period for public comment before the 
provisions of a rule take effect in accordance with section 553(b) of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). However, we 
can waive this notice and comment procedure if the Secretary finds, for 
good cause, that the notice and comment process is impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, and incorporates a 
statement of the finding and the reasons therefore in the notice.
    Section 553(d) of the APA ordinarily requires a 30-day delay in 
effective date of final rules after the date of their publication in 
the Federal Register. This 30-day delay in effective date can be 
waived, however, if an agency finds for good cause that the delay is 
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, and the 
agency incorporates a statement of the findings and its reasons in the 
rule issued.
    Our policy on timing and signature of recertification for home 
health services in the calendar year (CY) 2011 final rule has 
previously been subjected to notice and comment procedures. These 
corrections are consistent with the discussion of this policy in the CY 
2011 final rule and do not make substantive changes to this policy. 
This correcting amendment merely corrects technical errors in the 
regulations text of the CY 2011 final rule. As a result, this 
correcting amendment is intended to ensure that the CY 2011 final rule 
accurately reflects the policy adopted in the final rule. Therefore, we 
find that undertaking further notice and comment procedures to 
incorporate these corrections into the final rule is unnecessary and 
contrary to the public interest.
    For the same reasons, we are also waiving the 30-day delay in 
effective date for this correcting amendment. We believe that it is in 
the public interest to ensure that the CY 2011 final rule accurately 
states our policy on timing and signature of recertification for home 
health services. Thus delaying the effective date of these corrections 
would be contrary to the public interest. Therefore, we also find good 
cause to waive the 30-day delay in effective date.

List of Subjects in 42 CFR Part 424

    Emergency medical services, Health facilities, Health professions, 
Medicare, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services corrects 
42 CFR part 424 by making the following correcting amendment:

PART 424--CONDITIONS FOR MEDICARE PAYMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 424 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Secs. 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1302 and 1395hh).


0
2. Amend Sec.  424.22 by adding paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(ii) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  424.22  Requirements for home health services.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Beneficiary elected transfer; or
    (ii) Discharge and return to the same HHA during the 60-day 
episode.
* * * * *

    Authority: (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 
93.773, Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: February 10, 2011.
Dawn L. Smalls,
Executive Secretary to the Department.
[FR Doc. 2011-3779 Filed 2-17-11; 8:45 am]
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