[Federal Register: April 4, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 63)]
[Notices]
[Page 17093-17094]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04ap05-88]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10140, CMS-460, CMS-R-65]


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: New Collection; Title of
Information Collection: Claims Error Rate Testing (CERT)/Electronic
Medical Records Exploratory Survey; Form No.: CMS-10140 (OMB
0938-NEW); Use: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is
using a private vendor to conduct market research to assess the value
of electronic patient medical records relative to the Claims Error Rate
Testing (CERT) program and determine what actions CMS can take to
encourage the use of electronic records for the purpose of lowering the
CERT error rate. The proposed effort will test the hypothesis that
increased functionality of electronic records (meaning, greater
connectivity and features), is associated with lower CERT error rates
related to coding, non-response and incomplete documentation. The
project is expected to assist CMS in identifying a strategy to improve
the CERT claims error rate by developing an approach that would both
facilitate and encourage the use of electronic patient medical records
in the health care setting. This research focuses on physician
practices, outpatient hospitals, durable medical equipment (DME)
providers and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that have been

[[Page 17094]]

randomly sampled as part of the CERT process; Frequency: On occasion;
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents:
1600; Total Annual Responses: 1600; Total Annual Hours: 454.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare
Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement; Form No.: CMS-460
(OMB 0938-0373); Use: Form number CMS-460 is completed by
nonparticipating physicians and suppliers if they choose to participate
in Medicare Part B. By signing the agreement, the physician or supplier
agrees to take assignment on all Medicare claims. To take assignment
means to accept the Medicare allowed amount as payment in full for the
services they furnish and to charge the beneficiary no more than the
deductible and coinsurance for the covered service. In exchange for
signing the agreement, the physician or supplier receives a significant
number of program benefits not available to nonparticipating suppliers.
The information associated with this collection is needed to identify
the recipients of the program benefits; Frequency: Other--when starting
a new business; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number
of Respondents: 6000; Total Annual Responses: 6000; Total Annual Hours:
1500.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Information
Collection Requirements in Final Peer Review Organization Regulations,
42 CFR Sections 1004.40, 1004.50, 1004.60, 1004.70; Form No.: CMS-R-65
(OMB 0938-0444); Use: This final rule updates the procedures
governing the imposition and adjudication of program sanctions
predicated on the recommendations of Peer Review Organizations (PROs).
These changes are being made as a result of statutory revisions
designed to address health care fraud and abuse issues in the OIG
sanction process. The Peer Review Improvement Act of 1982 amended Title
XI of the Social Security Act, creating the Utilization and Quality
Control Peer Review Organization program. Section 1156 of the Social
Security Act imposes obligations on health care practitioners and other
persons who furnish or order services or items under Medicare. This
section also provides for sanction actions, if the Secretary determines
that the obligations as stated by this section are not met. Quality
Improvement Organizations (QIOs) are responsible for identifying
violations. QIOs may allow practitioners or other persons,
opportunities to submit relevant information before determining that a
violation has occurred. These requirements are used by the QIOs to
collect the information necessary to make their determinations;
Frequency: On occasion; Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions;
Number of Respondents: 53; Total Annual Responses: 1060; Total Annual
Hours: 22,684.
    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://www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/, 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.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collections must be mailed within 60 days of this notice directly to
the CMS Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer designated at
the address below:
    CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs,
Division of Regulations Development, Attention: William N. Parham, III,
Room C5-13-27, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: March 24, 2005.
John P. Burke, III,
CMS Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer, Office of
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Regulations Development
Group.
[FR Doc. 05-6533 Filed 4-1-05; 8:45 am]

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