[Federal Register: April 10, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 68)]
[Notices]
[Page 16401-16402]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10ap09-79]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10275]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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), 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 function; (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: CAHPS Home Health Care Survey: Use: As part of
the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Transparency
Initiative on Quality Reporting, CMS plans to implement a process to
measure and publicly report home health care patient experiences
through the CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and
Systems) Home Health Care Survey. The Home Health Care CAHPS survey, as
initially discussed in the May 4, 2007 Federal Register (72 FR 25356,
25452), is part of a family of CAHPS [reg] surveys that ask
patients about their health care experiences. The Home Health Care
CAHPS survey, developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ), creates a standardized survey for home health patients
to assess their home health care providers and the quality of their
home health care. Prior to this survey, there was no national standard
for collecting such information that would allow comparisons across all
home health agencies.
AHRQ conducted a field test to determine the length and content of
the Home Health Care CAHPS Survey. CMS has submitted the survey to the
National Quality Forum (NQF) for consideration and approval in their
consensus process. NQF endorsement represents the consensus opinion of
many healthcare providers, consumer groups, professional organizations,
purchasers, Federal agencies, and research and quality organizations.
The final survey will also be submitted to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for their approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
process.
The survey captures topics such as patients' interactions with the
agency, access to care, interactions with home health staff, provider
care and communication, and patient characteristics. The survey allows
the patient to give an overall rating of the agency, and asks if the
patient would recommend the agency to family and friends.
CMS is beginning plans for implementation of Home Health Care CAHPS
Survey. Administration of the survey will be conducted by multiple,
independent survey vendors working under contract with home health
agencies to facilitate data collection and reporting. Recruitment and
training of vendors who wish to be approved to collect Home Health Care
CAHPS data will begin in 2009. Home health agencies interested in
learning about the survey and/or voluntarily participating in the
survey are encouraged to view the Home Health Care CAHPS Web site:
http://www.homehealthCAHPS.org. Information about the project can also
be obtained by sending an e-mail to HHCAHPS@rti.org.
Home health agency participation in the Home Health Care CAHPS
Survey is currently voluntary. Form Number: CMS-10275 (OMB
0938-New); Frequency: Semi-annually, once and occasionally; Affected
Public: Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 2,706,000;
Total Annual Responses: 2,706,000; Total Annual Hours: 541,200. (For
policy questions regarding this collection contact Elizabeth Goldstein
at 410-786-6665. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
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/PaperworkReductionActof1995, 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.
To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the
[[Page 16402]]
proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on May 11, 2009.
OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS
Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, e-mail: OIRA_
submission@omb.eop.gov.
Dated: April 3, 2009.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-8223 Filed 4-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P