### 75816 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2014 / Notices

number 0938–0763); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private sector—Business or other for-profits and Notfor-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 598; Total Annual Responses: 5,872; Total Annual Hours: 56,411. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Kristy Holtje at 410–786–2209).

Dated: December 16, 2014. Martique Jones, Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.

[FR Doc. 2014–29739 Filed 12–18–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4120–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES** 

**Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services** 

**[Document Identifiers: CMS–10241, CMS– R–305 and CMS–224–14]** 

**Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;**  **Comment Request**

**AGENCY :**  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

**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 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.

**DATES :**  Comments must be received by February 17, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number (OCN). 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

ll, 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’ Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ PaperworkReductionActof1995.

2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov.

3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786–1326.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786–

1326.

**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–10241 Survey of Retail Prices:

Payment and Utilization Rates, and Performance Rankings CMS–R–305 External Quality Review

(EQR) of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and Supporting Regulations CMS–224–14 Federally Qualified

Health Center Cost Report Form Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (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: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Survey of Retail Prices: Payment and Utilization Rates, and Performance Rankings; Use: This study is divided into two parts. Part I focuses on the retail community pharmacy consumer prices. It also includes reporting by the states of payment and utilization rates for the 50 most widely prescribed drugs, and comparing state drug payment rates with the national retail survey prices. (Effective July 1, 2013, CMS has suspended Part I of the survey, pending funding decisions.) Part II focuses on the retail community pharmacy ingredient costs. This segment surveys the average acquisition costs of all covered outpatient drugs purchased by retail community pharmacies. The prices will be updated on at least a monthly basis. Form Number: CMS– 10241 (OMB control number 0938– 1041); Frequency: Yearly and Occasionally; Affected Public: Private sector—Business or other for-profits and State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 30,051; Total Annual Responses: 30,051; Total Annual Hours: 15,765. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact: Lisa Ferrandi at 410–786–5445).

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: External Quality Review (EQR) of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and Supporting Regulations; Use: State agencies must provide to the EQR organization (EQRO) information obtained through methods consistent with the protocols specified by CMS. This information is used by the EQRO to determine the quality of care furnished by an MCO. Since the EQR results are made available to the general public, this allows Medicaid/CHIP enrollees and potential enrollees to make informed choices regarding the selection of their providers. It also allows advocacy organizations, researchers, and other interested parties access to information on the quality of


### 75817 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2014 / Notices

care provided to Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP MCOs. States use the information during their oversight of these organizations. Form Number: CMS–R–305 (OMB control number 0938–0786); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 43; Total Annual Responses: 76; Total Annual Hours: 451,288. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Barbara Dailey at 410–786– 9012).

3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Federally Qualified Health Center Cost Report Form; Use: Providers of services participating in the Medicare program are required under sections 1815(a) and 1861(v)(1)(A) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1395g) to submit annual information to achieve settlement of costs for health care services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries. In addition, regulations at 42 CFR 413.20 and 413.24 require adequate cost data and cost reports from providers on an annual basis. The form CMS–224–14 cost report is needed to determine a provider’s reasonable costs incurred in furnishing medical services to Medicare beneficiaries and reimbursement due to or from a provider. Form Number: CMS–224–14 (OMB control number 0938-New); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public:Private sector—For-profit and Not-forprofit institutions; Number of Respondents: 1,296; Total Annual Responses: 1,296; Total Annual Hours: 75,168. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Julie Stankivic at 410–786–5725).

Dated: December 16, 2014. Martique Jones, Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.

[FR Doc. 2014–29741 Filed 12–18–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4120–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES** 

**Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services** 

**[CMS–3307–PN]**

**Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application from the Joint Commission**  **for Continued CMS-Approval of its Hospice Accreditation Program** 

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

**ACTION :**  Proposed Notice. **SUMMARY :**  This proposed notice with comment period acknowledges the receipt of an application from the Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for hospices that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. A hospice that participates in Medicaid must also meet the Medicare conditions for participation as required under 42 CFR 488.6(b). The statute requires that within 60 days of receipt of an organization’s complete application, we 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 January 19, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  In commenting, please refer to file code CMS–3307–PN. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission.

You may submit comments in one of four ways:

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–3307– PN, P.O. Box 8010, 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 (one original and two copies) to the following address only:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS–3307– 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, DCCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Room 445–G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201

(Because access to the interior of the HHS 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.)

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

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

If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, call telephone number (410) 786–9994 in advance to schedule your arrival with one of our staff members.

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

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION** section.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Lillian Williams, (410) 786–8636 Cindy Melanson, (410) 786–0310 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 in a hospice provided certain requirements are met by the hospice. Sections 1861(dd) of the Social Security Act (the Act) establish distinct criteria for facilities seeking designation as a hospice. 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