[Federal Register: August 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 161)]
[Notices]               
[Page 51681]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au04-91]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10109]

 
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) (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.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Title of Information Collection: Hospital Reporting Initiative--
Hospital Quality Measures.
    Use: The purpose is to collect data to produce valid, reliable, 
comparable, and salient quality measures to provide a potent stimulus 
for clinicians and providers to improve the quality of care they 
provide. This reporting initiative in which hospitals may participate 
is a significant step toward a more informed public and a means to 
sustain health care quality improvement. The data is currently being 
collected from hospitals by CMS. The hospitals submitting data have 
volunteered to participate in public reporting. This effort places no 
additional data collection requirements or burdens on hospitals. 
Section 501(b) of the MMA offers monetary incentives for hospitals 
participating in reporting.
    Form Number: CMS-10109.
    OMB #: 0938-0918.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    Total Annual Responses: 16,000.
    Total Annual Hours: 238,000.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS's 
Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/, 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. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed 
within 60 days of this notice directly to the CMS Paperwork Clearance 
Officer designated at the following address: CMS, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development 
and Issuances, Attention: Melissa Musotto, Room C5-14-03, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: August 6, 2004.
John P. Burke, III,
Paperwork Reduction Act Team Leader, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Strategic Affairs, Division of Regulations Development and Issuances.
[FR Doc. 04-18620 Filed 8-19-04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P