[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86806-86807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25331]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-379]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human 
Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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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 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in 
the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information, including each proposed

[[Page 86807]]

extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, 
and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. 
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden 
estimate 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by December 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, please access 
the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address 
into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(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 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires 
federal agencies to publish a 30-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 that 
summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for 
public comment:
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Financial 
Statement of Debtor; Use: When a Medicare Administrative Contractor 
(MAC) overpays a physician or supplier, the overpayment is associated 
with a single claim, and the amount of the overpayment is moderate. In 
these cases, the physician/supplier usually refunds the overpaid amount 
in a lump sum. Alternatively, the MAC may recoup the overpaid amount 
against future payments. A recoupment is the recovery by Medicare of 
any outstanding Medicare debt by reducing present or future Medicare 
payments and applying the amount withheld to the indebtedness. The 
recoupment can be made only if the physician/supplier accepts 
assignment since the MAC makes payment to the physician/supplier only 
on assigned claims.
    The physician/supplier may be unable to refund a large overpaid 
amount in a single payment. The MAC cannot recover the overpayment by 
recoupment if the physician/supplier does not accept assignment of 
future claims or is not expected to file future claims because of going 
out of business, illness or death. In these unusual circumstances, the 
MAC has authority to approve or deny extended repayment schedules up to 
12-months or may recommend to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS) to approve up to 60 months. Before the MAC takes these 
actions, the MAC will require full documentation of the physician's/
supplier's financial situation. Thus, the physician/supplier must 
complete the CMS-379, Financial Statement of Debtor.
    Section 1893(f)(1)) of the Social Security Act and 42 CFR 401.607 
provides the authority for collection of this information. Section 42 
CFR 405.607 requires that, CMS recover amounts of claims due from 
debtors including interest where appropriate by direct collections in 
lump sums or in installments. Form Number: CMS-379 (OMB control number: 
0938-0270); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal 
Governments; Number of Respondents: 500; Total Annual Responses: 500; 
Total Annual Hours: 1,000 hours. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Monica Thomas, at 410-786-4292.)

William N. Parham, III,
Director, Division of Information Collections and Regulatory Impacts, 
Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2024-25331 Filed 10-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P