```

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 6 (Friday, January 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2005-2006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00399]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-10069]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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

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 (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 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 must be received by March 11, 2025.

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or 
OMB control number. 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: __, 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, 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 N. Parham at (410) 786-4669.

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 10069 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Application

    Under the 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 Collections

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement of a 
previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Rural 
Community Hospital Demonstration Program Application; Use: CMS is 
requesting the information collection request previously approved under 
OMB control number 0938-0880, the Medicare Waiver Demonstration/Model 
Application, be reinstated. The approval lapsed due to an 
administrative oversight.
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has operated the 
statutory Rural Community Hospital (RCH) Demonstration since 2004. The 
authorizing statute instructed CMS to test cost-based payment for 
Medicare inpatient services for rural hospitals with fewer than 51 beds 
that are not eligible to be Critical Access Hospitals (CAH).
    The RCH Demonstration Program was initially authorized by section 
410A of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003. Following the 
initial 5-year authorization, the demonstration has been extended 3 
times, each time for an additional 5 years--first, by Sections 3123 and 
10313 of the Affordable Care Act; then by section 15003 of the 21st 
Century Cures Act; and by section 128 of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2021. Currently, the demonstration has 20 
participants out of a maximum of 30 hospitals, and it is scheduled to 
end in 2028.
    For previous authorizations, CMS has issued a Request for 
Applications (RFA) to solicit applications for the demonstration 
program. For the last solicitation, in 2017, CMS received 51 
applications for 13 open spaces. CMS is planning on a new RFA to fill 
the ten spaces that are currently open.
    Per the RFA, applications are requested in identical format, 
regardless of the specific goals and projects of the individual 
applicants. The standardized application format is not controversial, 
and it will reduce burden on applicants and reviewers. Responses are 
strictly voluntary. The standard format will enable CMS to select 
proposals that meet CMS objectives and show the best potential for 
success.
    The RFA will ask interested hospitals to provide a problem 
statement, strategies for ongoing financial viability, goals for 
participation in the demonstration, and plans for collaboration with 
other providers in the area. Applications will be submitted in the 
user-friendly format outlined in the Medicare Waiver Demonstration/
Model Application.

[[Page 2006]]

    A panel of evaluators will be assembled and utilize a standardized 
rubric to score the submitted proposals and identify hospitals with the 
highest scores. Results will be used to guide the future of the 
Medicare and Medicaid programs and to inform reform initiatives. Form 
Number: CMS-10069 (OMB control number: 0938-0880); Frequency: Once; 
Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 30; Total Annual Responses: 30; 
Total Annual Hours: 2,400. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Alexis Lilly at 410-786-3501).

William N. Parham, III,
Director, Division of Information Collections and Regulatory Impacts, 
Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2025-00399 Filed 1-8-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
```