Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 33460-33461 [E6-8933]

Agencies

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33460-33461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8933]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-R-96, CMS-10168, CMS-R-143]


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: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Emergency and 
Foreign Hospital Services--Beneficiary Statement of Canadian/Mexican 
Travel Claims and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 424.123; Use: The 
emergency services furnished to a beneficiary outside the U.S. are 
covered under Medicare if the foreign hospital meets the conditions for 
a domestic nonparticipating hospital in addition to one of the 
following: (1) If the emergency is considered to have occurred within 
the U.S. and the reason for departure for the U.S. was to obtain 
treatment; (2) if the emergency occurred in Canada while the 
beneficiary was traveling between Alaska and another State; (3) if the 
Canadian or Mexican hospital is closer, more accessible or adequately 
equipped to handle the illness or injury; or (4) services were rendered 
aboard a ship in an American port or on the same day the ship arrived 
or departed from that port. Form Number: CMS-R-96 (OMB: 0938-
0484); Frequency: Reporting--On occasion; Affected Public: Individuals 
or households, business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 1,100; Total Annual Responses: 
1,100; Total Annual Hours: 275.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Program: 
Complex Medical Review; Use: Complex medical review involves the 
application of clinical judgment by a licensed medical professional in 
order to evaluate medical records to determine whether an item or 
service is covered, and is reasonable and necessary. The information 
required under this collection is requested by Medicare contractors, 
and is requested of providers or suppliers submitting claims for 
payment from the Medicare program when data analysis indicates aberrant 
billing patterns which may present a vulnerability to the Medicare 
program. Form Number: CMS-10168 (OMB: 0938-0969); Frequency: 
Recordkeeping and Reporting--As requested; Affected Public: Business or 
other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 1,169,683; Total Annual Responses: 2,900,000; Total Annual 
Hours: 966,666.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare 
Physician Fee Schedule Geographic Practice Expense Index (GPCI); Use: 
This information collection is a survey of State insurance 
commissioners and malpractice insurers to acquire premium data for use 
in computing the malpractice component of the geographic practice cost 
index, a component of the geographic cost index as set forth in the 
Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1989. The data collected in this 
information collection request will be used by CMS staff and outside 
contractors to update the Medicare physician fee schedule geographic 
practice expense index (MGPCI), the malpractice relative value units 
(MRVUs), and to supplement the updating of the malpractice component of 
the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). The MGPCI is one of the components 
of the GPCI, the others being physician work (net income), employee 
wages, office rents, medical equipment and supplies, and miscellaneous 
expenses. The MRVUs are one of the three components of the fee 
schedule, the others being physician work RVUs and practice expense 
RVUs. The GPCIs and fee schedule RVUs also used by other Federal 
agencies such as the Veteran's Administration and the Department of 
Labor. Form Number: CMS-R-143 (OMB: 0938-0575); Frequency: 
Reporting--Every three years; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal 
governments, Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 150; Total Annual Responses: 50; 
Total Annual Hours: 150.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' 
Web site address at https://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

[[Page 33461]]

Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
    To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be received at the address below, 
no later than 5 p.m. on August 8, 2006.
    CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development--B, Attention: William N. Parham, 
III, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-
1850.

    Dated: June 1, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E6-8933 Filed 6-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P