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[Federal Register: January 15, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 10)]
[Notices]               
[Page 2547-2548]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja10-68]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-718-721, CMS-10303 and CMS-685]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
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) 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 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.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement with 
change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information 
Collection: Business Proposal Forms for Quality Improvement 
Organizations (QIOs); Use: The submission of proposal information by 
current quality improvement associations (QIOs) and other bidders, on 
the appropriate forms, will satisfy CMS's need for meaningful, 
consistent, and verifiable data with which to evaluate contract 
proposals. The data collected on the forms associated with this 
information collection request is used by CMS to negotiate QIO 
contracts. The revised business proposal forms will be useful in a 
number of important ways. The Government will be able to compare the 
costs reported by the QIOs on the cost reports to the proposed costs 
noted on the business proposal forms. Subsequent contract and 
modification negotiations will be based on historic cost data. The 
business proposal forms will be one element of the historical cost data 
from which we can analyze future proposed costs. In addition, the 
business proposal format will standardize the cost proposing and 
pricing process among all QIOs. With well-defined cost centers and line 
items, proposals can be compared among QIOs for reasonableness and 
appropriateness. Form Number: CMS-718-721 (OMB: 0938-0579); 
Frequency: Reporting--Triennially; Affected Public: Business or other 
for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 21; 
Total Annual Responses: 21; Total Annual Hours: 1,785. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact Clarissa Whatley at 410-
786-7154. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Medicare Gainsharing Demonstration Evaluation: 
Physician Focus Groups; Use: The proposed physician focus groups are 
part of an overall evaluation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services CMS' congressionally mandated Medicare Gainsharing 
Demonstration Evaluation. The Congress, under Section 5007 of the 
Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005, requires CMS to conduct a 
qualified gainsharing program to test alternative ways that hospitals 
and physicians can share in efficiency gains. The primary goal of the 
demonstration is to evaluate gainsharing as a means to align physician 
and hospital incentives to improve quality and efficiency. The 
demonstration has two mandated Reports to Congress. Results from 
physician focus groups will be included in both Reports to Congress. 
Form Number: CMS-10303 (OMB: 0938-New); Frequency: Once; 
Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for profits; Number 
of Respondents: 192; Total Annual Responses: 96; Total Annual Hours: 
96. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact William 
Buczko at 410-786-6593. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: End Stage Renal 
Disease (ESRD) Network Semi-Annual Cost Report Forms and Supporting 
Regulations in 42 CFR section 405.2110 and 42 CFR 405.2112; Use: 
Section 1881(c) of the Social Security Act establishes End Stage Renal 
Disease (ESRD) Network contracts. The regulations found at 42 CFR 
405.2110 and 405.2112 designated 18 ESRD Networks which are funded by 
renewable contracts. These contracts are on 3-year cycles. To better 
administer the program, CMS is requiring contractors to submit semi-
annual cost reports. The purpose of the cost reports is to enable the 
ESRD Networks to report costs in a standardized manner. This will allow 
CMS to review, compare and project ESRD Network costs during the life 
of the contract. Form Number: CMS-685 (OMB: 0938-0657); 
Frequency: Reporting--Semi-annually; Affected Public: Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 18; Total Annual Responses: 36; 
Total Annual Hours: 108. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Victoria Morgan at 410-786-7232. 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 at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995, or E-
mail 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.
    In commenting on the proposed information collections please 
reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured 
consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of 
the following ways by March 16, 2010:
    1. Electronically. You may submit 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) accepting comments.
    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following 
address: CMS, Office of Strategic

[[Page 2548]]

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.

    Dated: January 8, 2010.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-743 Filed 1-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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