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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 38298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15693]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-10429]

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: New collection (request 
for a new OMB control number). Title of Information Collection: Surveys 
of Physicians and Home Health Agencies to Assess Access Issues for 
Specific Medicare Beneficiaries as Defined in Section 3131(d) of the 
ACA. Use: This collection is part of a study called for under section 
3131(d) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The 
study is focused on two major issues: (1) supporting CMS' efforts to 
improve payment accuracy and (2) understanding issues of access for the 
ACA populations under the existing home health prospective payment 
system. The study team's analytic plan focuses on understanding payment 
accuracy for the specific study populations through claims and cost 
data analyses, which will reflect payments and costs for patients who 
have gained access to home health care. In order to understand access 
issues for the ACA defined populations, the study team proposes using 
survey instruments to better understand the characteristics of Medicare 
beneficiaries who are not able to gain access to or have experienced 
delays in gaining access to home health services.
    As a new collection, the information collected is expected to 
support CMS' efforts to improve the home health prospective payment 
system payment accuracy for vulnerable populations and thereby ensure 
the payment system does not inadvertently cause avoidable access 
problems. The questions are designed to provide insights into access 
issues for vulnerable populations that cannot be learned through 
analyses of administrative data.
    Form Number: CMS-10429 (OCN: 0938-New). Frequency: Once. Affected 
Public: Private Sector (business or other for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions). Number of Respondents: 875. Total Annual Responses: 292. 
Total Annual Hours: 73. (For policy questions regarding this collection 
contact Kristy Chu at 410-786-8953. 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 Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov, or call the 
Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
    To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk 
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on July 27, 2012. 
OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, Email: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.

    Dated: June 22, 2012.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division-B, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-15693 Filed 6-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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