[Federal Register: July 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 145)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42851-42852]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jy06-60]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10201]

 
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and 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 and 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 functions;

[[Page 42852]]

(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 
1320(a)(2)(ii). This is necessary to ensure compliance with an 
initiative of the Administration. We cannot reasonably comply with the 
normal clearance procedures because of an unanticipated event.
    The evaluation is to study the MMA Section 702 demonstration, 
``Clarify the Definition of Homebound.'' The 2-year demonstration in 
three regions is to test the effect of deeming certain beneficiaries 
homebound for purposes of meeting the Medicare home health benefit 
eligibility requirements. The demonstration began October 2004, and 
since October 2004, enrollment into the demonstration has been 
exceedingly small--a total of about 50 beneficiaries. This has occurred 
despite the fact that CMS has conducted a broad variety of outreach 
efforts to beneficiaries, home health agencies, and the public. 
Activities have included special conference calls; demonstration 
Website; public meetings; mass mailings to physician groups, insurers, 
hospitals, governments, aging offices, independent living centers, and 
others who have contact with disabled beneficiaries; letters of 
information to stakeholders; e-mails to home health agencies and 
advocacy organizations; attendance/booths/presentations at meetings; 
article placements; and special messages on carrier and intermediary 
Medicare explanation of benefits letters.
    The purpose of the survey is to understand barriers that may have 
operated to impede enrollment in the demonstration, such as problems 
with eligibility definitions, other reasons why beneficiaries may not 
have qualified, and any other relevant information that agencies may be 
able to provide. The survey will also be used to understand the way 
agencies in the demonstration states apply the homebound eligibility 
criteria in practice. In addition, qualitative information so far has 
indicated that the role of the homebound criterion may have changed 
since the Medicare manual was revised to allow for home health 
beneficiaries to attend religious services and adult day care. If the 
revised definition has reduced concerns about the restrictiveness of 
the homebound eligibility criterion, we believe this information is 
important to include in the report to Congress. The original motivation 
for the demonstration was to loosen restrictions for certain types of 
beneficiaries.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Home Health Agency Survey on the Medicare Home 
Health Independence Demonstration; Use: The research evaluation for 
this information collection is being conducted under contract with 
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. 
(MPR) will use the quantitative data collected with the home health 
agency survey to supplement the qualitative data collected from other 
central stakeholders to understand the reasons for the low enrollment 
rate for the demonstration and ways to change the home health 
eligibility requirements. MPR has designed this mail questionnaire to 
collect information from the home health agencies in the following 
domains: Interpretation of the homebound rule, impact of the homebound 
rule upon their admissions and discharges, understanding of the 
demonstration eligibility criteria and determination of the eligibility 
status of their caseloads. This information will be used by Congress to 
understand why the demand within the Medicare population for the 
homebound waiver did not materialize as anticipated. Form Number: CMS-
10201 (OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Reporting--One-time; 
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions, and State, Local or Tribal governments; Number of 
Respondents: 120; Total Annual Responses: 120; Total Annual Hours: 60.
    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
September 1, 2006, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be considered from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by August 27, 2006.
    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.
    Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information 
requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information 
collection and recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed 
to the designees referenced below by August 27, 2006:

CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of 
Regulations Development--B, Attn: William N. Parham, III, Room C4-26-
05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850,

and,

OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Carolyn Lovett, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.
    Fax Number: (202) 395-6974.

    Dated: July 20, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E6-12037 Filed 7-27-06; 8:45 am]

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