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###### Department of Health and Human Services

###### Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

          - [Document Identifier: CMS-10225 and CMS-10769]

# AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human 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 the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.                    

# DATES:

Comments must be received by May 10, 2021.

# 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' website address at                         *https://www.cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Legislation/​PaperworkReductionActof1995/​PRA-Listing.html.*

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William N. Parham at (410) 786-4669.

# 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-10225 Disclosures Required of Certain Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals Regarding Physician Ownership

CMS-10769 Evaluation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Network of Quality Improvement and Innovation Contractors (NQIIC)

                    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:*                     Reinstatement of a previously approved collection;                     *Title of Information Collection:*                     Disclosures Required of Certain Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals Regarding Physician Ownership;                     *Use:*                     This information collection relates to the required third party disclosures by certain Medicare-participating hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and physicians to their patients. There are 5 types of disclosures required. The intent of the disclosure notice is to assist the patient in making an informed decision regarding their care. The first disclosure requires physician owned hospitals and CAHs to disclose to its patients whether the hospitals/CAHs are physician-owned and, if so, the names of the physician-owners. The second disclosure requires the physician owner or investor in the hospital, as part of his or her continued medical staff membership or admitting privileges, to disclose to the patient being referred to the hospital any ownership or investment interest held by the physician or an immediate family member of the physician. The third disclosure requires physician owned hospitals to disclose on all public websites for and in any public advertising for the hospital that the hospital is owned or invested in by physicians. The fourth and fifth disclosures apply to all hospitals and CAHs that do not have a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) on the premises at all times to disclose this to patients upon admission or registration for both inpatient and specified outpatient services. These hospitals and CAHs must provide a written disclosure to the patients admitted to the hospital and must also post a conspicuous notice in the Emergency Departments (ED) which states that the hospital does not a physician present 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.                     *Form Number:*                     CMS-10225 (OMB control number: 0938-1034);                     *Frequency:*                     Occasionally;                     *Affected Public:*                     Private sector—Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions;                     *Number of                               ( print page 13567)                            Respondents:*                     322;                     *Total Annual Responses:*                     4,675,575;                     *Total Annual Hours:*                     78,935. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Caroline Gallaher at 410-786-8705).                

                    2.                     *Type of Information Collection Request:*                     New collection (Request for a new OMB control number);                     *Title of Information Collection:*                     Evaluation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Network of Quality Improvement and Innovation Contractors (NQIIC);                     *Use:*                     The purpose of this Information Collection Request (ICR) is to collect data using telephone surveys to inform the program evaluation of the CMS NQIIC initiative. The purpose of NQIIC is to support quality improvement efforts across settings and programs for maximum impact to health care and value to taxpayers in a manner that aligns with CMS' and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) priorities. The NQIIC quality improvement efforts involve the QIN-QIO Program, which is one of the largest federal programs dedicated to improving health quality for Medicare beneficiaries.                

                    CMS evaluates the quality and effectiveness of the QIN-QIO Program as authorized in Part B of Title XI of the Social Security Act. This ICR is to conduct data collection using surveys with administrators or managers of nursing homes and hospitals.                     *Form Number:*                     CMS-10769 (OMB control number: 0938-NEW);                     *Frequency:*                     Yearly;                     *Affected Public:*                     Private Sector: Business or other for-profits;                     *Number of Respondents:*                     1,010;                     *Total Annual Responses:*                     1,010;                     *Total Annual Hours:*                     300. (For policy questions regarding this collection, contact Nancy Sonnenfeld at 410-786-1294.)                

Dated: March 3, 2021.

William N. Parham, III,

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

[FR Doc. 2021-04798 Filed 3-8-21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P