[Federal Register: February 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 24)]
[Notices]
[Page 5889-5890]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05fe03-64]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10083]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) (formerly known as the Health Care Financing
Administration (HCFA)), Department of Health and Human Services, 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.
We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information
collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following
requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency
review because the collection of this information is needed before the
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR
part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with the Trade Act of
2002. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures
because President of an unanticipated event and public harm.
[[Page 5890]]
We are requesting emergency clearance of a pilot study designed to
elicit information from discharged patients concerning their hospital/
acute care experience. Given the current momentum, enthusiasm and
support expressed by hospitals and the hospital associations for public
reporting of hospital quality information, it is important to provide
the tools needed for reliable and valid data collection as soon as
possible. CMS would like to take advantage of the opportunity of
testing the H-CAHPS instrument in the Hospital State Pilots that has
just started. It is important to provide hospitals a standard tool and
data collection methodology by July/August 2003 to support this joint
initiative. We are interested in receiving comments on the pilot during
the course of the pilot, as well as during the comment period mentioned
below. However, those received after the close of the comment period
will not be included in the materials that OMB reviews in determining
whether to approve the collection.
CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by
February 21, 2003, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the
individuals designated below by February 20, 2003. During this 180-day
period, we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing
the initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment
period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB
review and an extension of this emergency approval.
Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of
Information Collection: Pilot Test of Hospital CAHPS Survey; Form No.:
CMS-10083 (OMB 0938-XXXX); Use: CMS has requested a hospital
survey as a way of providing comparison information for consumers who
need to select a hospital and as a way of encouraging accountability of
hospitals for the care they provide. With a standardized instrument
consumers will be able to make ``apples to apples'' comparisons among
hospitals, allow hospitals and hospital chains to self compare, and
provide state oversight officials with useful data. A standardized
instrument, developed under the CAHPS umbrella, will produce a reliable
and valid instrument that any organization can use at no cost to obtain
patient data about hospital experiences. This tool will be adopted by
the National Hospital Voluntary Initiative; Frequency: Once; Affected
Public: Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 16,500; Total
Annual Responses: 16,500; Total Annual Hours: 5,500.
We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of
these information collections. A notice will be published in the
Federal Register when approval is obtained.
To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS'
Web Site address at http://cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/default.asp or
E-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number,
and CMS document identifier, to Paperwork@hcfa.gov, or call the Reports
Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information
requirements. However, as noted above, in order to be considered in the
OMB approval process, comments on these information collection and
recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed to the designees
referenced below, by February 20, 2003.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development
and Issuances, Attn: Reports Clearance Officer, Room C5-16-03, 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax Number: (410) 786-
3064. Attn: Julie Brown; and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC
20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167, Attn: Brenda
Aguilar, CMS Desk Officer.
Dated: January 30, 2003.
John P. Burke, III,
CMS Reports Clearance Officer, CMS, Office of Information Services,
Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 03-2788 Filed 2-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P