### 4727 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 19 / Wednesday, January 29, 2014 / Notices

previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Program: Final Marketing Provisions;

Use: We require that Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations and Part D sponsors use standardized documents to satisfy disclosure requirements mandated by section 1851(d)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (Act) and 42 CFR 422.111(b) for MA organizations, and section 1860D–1(c) of the Act and 42 CFR 423.128(a)(3) for Part D sponsors. The regulatory provisions require that MA organizations and Part D sponsors disclose plan information, including: Service area, benefits, access, grievance and appeals procedures, and quality improvement and quality assurance requirements by September 30th of each year. The MA organizations and Part D sponsors use the information to comply with the disclosure requirements. We will use the approved
standardized documents to ensure that
correct information is disclosed to current and potential enrollees. The package has been revised subsequent to the publication of the 60-day notice (78 FR 63208). Form Number: CMS–10260 (OCN: 0938–1051); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private sector (Business or other for-profits); Number of Respondents: 770; Total Annual Responses: 770; Total Annual Hours: 9,240. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Timothy Roe at 410–786–2006.)

Dated: January 24, 2014.
Martique Jones, Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.

[FR Doc. 2014–01775 Filed 1–28–14; 8:45 am]

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**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND**
**HUMAN SERVICES**

**Centers for Medicare & Medicaid**
**Services**

**[CMS–3290–PN]**

**Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application From the Joint**  **Commission for Continued Approval of Its Hospital Accreditation Program** 

**AGENCY :**  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.

**ACTION :**  Proposed notice.

**SUMMARY :**  This proposed notice acknowledges the receipt of an application from the Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Section 1865(b)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires that within 60 days of receipt of an organization’s complete application, CMS publish a notice that identifies the national accrediting body making the request, describes the nature of the request, and provides at least a 30-day public comment period.

**DATES :**  To be assured consideration,
comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on February 28, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  In commenting, please refer
to file code CMS–3290–PN. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX)

transmission.

You may submit comments in one of four ways (please choose only one of the ways listed):

1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific issues in this regulation to http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the
‘‘Submit a comment’’ instructions.

2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS–3290– PN, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD

21244–8010.

Please allow sufficient time for mailed
comments to be received before the close of the comment period.

3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to the following address ONLY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS–3290– PN, Mail Stop C4–26–05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.

4. By hand or courier. Alternatively, you may deliver (by hand or courier) your written comments to the following
addresses:

a. For delivery in Washington, DC—
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 445–G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201

(Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building is not readily available to persons without Federal government identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being filed.)

b. For delivery in Baltimore, MD— Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.

If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, call telephone number (410) 786–7195 in advance to schedule your arrival with
one of our staff members.

Comments erroneously mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand or courier delivery may be delayed and received after the comment period.

For information on viewing public comments, see the beginning of the

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION** section.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Monda Shaver, (410) 786–3410, Cindy Melanson, (410) 786–0310, or Patricia Chmielewski, (410) 786–6899.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Inspection of Public Comments: All comments
received before the close of the comment period are available for viewing by the public, including any personally identifiable or confidential
business information that is included in a comment. We post all comments
received before the close of the comment period on the following Web site as soon as possible after they have
been received: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the search
instructions on that Web site to view public comments.

Comments received timely will also be available for public inspection as they are received, generally beginning approximately 3 weeks after publication of a document, at the headquarters of
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view public comments, phone 1–800–743–3951.

I. Background

Under the Medicare program, eligible beneficiaries may receive covered services from a hospital provided certain requirements are met. Sections 1861(e) of the Social Security Act (the Act), establish distinct criteria for facilities seeking designation as a hospital. Regulations concerning provider agreements are at 42 CFR part 489 and those pertaining to activities relating to the survey and certification of facilities are at 42 CFR part 488. The regulations at 42 CFR part 482 specify the minimum conditions that a hospital must meet to participate in the Medicare

program.

Generally, to enter into an agreement, a hospital must first be certified by a state survey agency as complying with


### 4728 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 19 / Wednesday, January 29, 2014 / Notices

the conditions or requirements set forth in part 482 of our regulations. Thereafter, the hospital is subject to regular surveys by a state survey agency
to determine whether it continues to meet these requirements. There is an alternative, however, to surveys by state agencies.

Section 1865(a)(1) of the Act provides that, if a provider entity demonstrates through accreditation by an approved national accrediting organization that all applicable Medicare conditions are met or exceeded, we will deem those provider entities as having met the requirements. Accreditation by an accrediting organization is voluntary and is not required for Medicare participation.

If an accrediting organization is recognized by the Secretary as having
standards for accreditation that meet or exceed Medicare requirements, any provider entity accredited by the national accrediting body’s approved program would be deemed to meet the
Medicare conditions. A national accrediting organization applying for approval of its accreditation program under part 488, subpart A, must provide
us with reasonable assurance that the accrediting organization requires the accredited provider entities to meet requirements that are at least as stringent as the Medicare conditions. Our regulations concerning the approval of accrediting organizations are set forth at §§ 488.4 and 488.8(d)(3). The regulations at § 488.8(d)(3) require accrediting organizations to reapply for continued approval of its accreditation program every 6 years or sooner as determined by us.

The Joint Commission’s current term of approval for their hospital accreditation program expires July 15,

2014.

II. Approval of Deeming Organizations

Section 1865(a)(2) of the Act and our regulations at § 488.8(a) require that our findings concerning review and approval of a national accrediting organization’s requirements consider, among other factors, the applying accrediting organization’s requirements for accreditation; survey procedures; resources for conducting required surveys; capacity to furnish information for use in enforcement activities; monitoring procedures for provider entities found not in compliance with the conditions or requirements; and ability to provide us with the necessary
data for validation.

Section 1865(a)(3)(A) of the Act further requires that we publish, within 60 days of receipt of an organization’s complete application, a notice identifying the national accrediting body making the request, describing the nature of the request, and providing at least a 30-day public comment period. We have 210 days from the receipt of a complete application to publish notice of approval or denial of the application.

The purpose of this proposed notice is to inform the public of the Joint Commission’s request for continued approval of its hospital accreditation program. This notice also solicits public comment on whether the Joint Commission’s requirements meet or
exceed the Medicare conditions of participation (CoPs) for hospitals.

III. Evaluation of Deeming Authority Request

The Joint Commission submitted all the necessary materials to enable us to make a determination concerning its request for continued approval of its hospital accreditation program. This application was determined to be complete on December 17, 2013. Under section 1865(a)(2) of the Act and our regulations at § 488.8 (Federal review of accrediting organizations), our review and evaluation of the Joint Commission will be conducted in accordance with, but not necessarily limited to, the following factors:

• The equivalency of the Joint Commission’s standards for hospitals as compared with CMS’ hospital CoPs.

• The Joint Commission’s survey process to determine the following:

++ The composition of the survey team, surveyor qualifications, and the ability of the organization to provide continuing surveyor training.

++ The comparability of the Joint Commission’s processes to those of state agencies, including survey frequency, and the ability to investigate and respond appropriately to complaints against accredited facilities.

++ The Joint Commission’s processes and procedures for monitoring a hospital found out of compliance with the Joint Commission’s program requirements. These monitoring procedures are used only when the Joint Commission identifies noncompliance. If noncompliance is identified through validation reviews or complaint surveys, the state survey agency monitors corrections as specified at § 488.7(d).

++ The Joint Commission’s capacity to report deficiencies to the surveyed facilities and respond to the facility’s plan of correction in a timely manner.

++ The Joint Commission’s capacity to provide us with electronic data and reports necessary for effective validation and assessment of the organization’s

survey process. ++ The adequacy of the Joint Commission’s staff and other resources, and its financial viability.

++ The Joint Commission’s capacity to adequately fund required surveys.

++ The Joint Commission’s policies with respect to whether surveys are announced or unannounced, to assure that surveys are unannounced.

++ The Joint Commission’s agreement to provide us with a copy of the most current accreditation survey together with any other information related to the survey as we may require (including corrective action plans).

IV. Collection of Information Requirements

This document does not impose

information collection and recordkeeping requirements. Consequently, it need not be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 35).

V. Response to Public Comments

Because of the large number of public comments we normally receive on Federal Register documents, we are not able to acknowledge or respond to them individually. We will consider all comments we receive by the date and time specified in the **DATES** section of this preamble, and, when we proceed with a subsequent document, we will respond to the comments in the preamble to that document.

Upon completion of our evaluation, including evaluation of comments received as a result of this notice, we will publish a final notice in the Federal Register announcing the result of our

evaluation.

Authority: (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.778, Medical Assistance Program; No. 93.773 Medicare— Hospital Insurance Program; and No. 93.774, Medicare—Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

Dated: January 15, 2014.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare &

Medicaid Services.

[FR Doc. 2014–01639 Filed 1–28–14; 8:45 am]

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