[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30607-30608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12010]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-1984-14]


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 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 July 9, 2021.

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, you may make 
your request using one of following:
    1. Access CMS' website address at website address at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html.

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: Reinstatement without of 
change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information 
Collection: Hospice Facility Cost Report Form;  Use: Under the 
authority of Sec. Sec.  1815(a) and 1833(e) of the Social Security Act 
(the Act), CMS requires that providers of services participating in the 
Medicare program submit information to determine costs for health care 
services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries. CMS requires that 
providers follow reasonable cost principles under 1861(v)(1)(A) of the 
Act when completing the Medicare cost report (MCR). The regulations at 
42 CFR 413.20 and 413.24 require that providers submit acceptable cost 
reports on an annual basis and maintain sufficient financial records 
and statistical data, capable of verification by qualified auditors. In 
addition, regulations require that providers furnish such Information 
to the contractor as may be necessary to assure proper payment by the 
program, receive program payments, and satisfy program overpayment 
determinations.
    CMS regulations at 42 CFR 413.24(f)(4) require that each hospice 
submit an annual cost report to their contractor in a standard American 
Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) electronic cost 
report (ECR) format. A hospice submits the ECR file to contractors 
using a compact disk (CD), flash drive, or the CMS approved Medicare 
Cost Report E-filing (MCREF) portal, [URL: https://mcref.cms.gov]. The 
instructions for

[[Page 30608]]

submission are included in the hospice cost report instructions on page 
43-3.
    CMS requires the Form CMS-1984-14 to determine a hospice's 
reasonable costs incurred in furnishing medical services to Medicare 
beneficiaries. CMS uses the Form CMS-1984-14 for rate setting; payment 
refinement activities, including developing a market basket; Medicare 
Trust Fund projections; and program operations support. Additionally, 
the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) uses the hospice cost 
report data to calculate Medicare margins (a measure of the 
relationship between Medicare's payments and providers' Medicare costs) 
and analyze data to formulate Medicare Program recommendations to 
Congress. Form Number: CMS-1984-14 (OMB control number: 0938-0758); 
Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other 
for-profits, Not for profits institutions; Number of Respondents: 
4,379; Total Annual Responses: 4,379; Total Annual Hours: 823,252. (For 
policy questions regarding this collection contact Duncan Gail at 410-
786-7278.)

    Dated: June 3, 2021.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-12010 Filed 6-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P