Solicitation of Information and Recommendations for Revising the Compliance Program Guidance for Nursing Facilities, 4248-4249 [E8-1213]

Download as PDF 4248 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 16 / Thursday, January 24, 2008 / Notices actions such as withholding of payments or converting to the reimbursement method of payment. Continued failure to submit required reports may result in one or both of the following: (1) The imposition of special award provisions; and (2) the nonfunding or non-award of other eligible projects or activities. This applies whether the delinquency is attributable to the failure of the grantee organization or the individual responsible for preparation of the reports. 5. Telecommunication for the hearing impaired is available at: TTY (301) 443– 6394. Agency Contact(s) 1. Questions on the initiative, regarding IHS NARCH issues and policies, may be directed to: Alan Trachtenberg, MD, MPH, Division of Planning, Evaluation and Research, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20852, Telephone: (301) 443–4700, Fax: (301) 443–0114, e-mail: narch@ihs.gov. 2. Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be directed to: Sylvia Ryan, Division of Grants Operations, Indian Health Service, Reyes Building, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP Suite 350, Rockville, MD 20852, Telephone: (301) 443–5204, Fax: (301) 443–9602, e-mail: narch@ihs.gov. 3. Questions on NIGMS issues and policies, may be directed to: Clifton A. Poodry, Ph.D., Minority Opportunities in Research Division, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, 45 Center Drive, Suite 2AS.37, MSC 6200, Bethesda, MD 20892, Telephone: (301) 594–3900, Fax: (301) 480–2753, e-mail: poodryc@nigms.nih.gov. 4. Questions on the review of applications may be directed to: Mushtaq A. Khan, D.V.M., Ph.D., Chief, Digestive and Respiratory Sciences IRGs, Center for Scientific Review, MSC 7818, Room 2176; 6701 Rockledge Drive; Bethesda, MD 20892 (20817 for courier or express service) Telephone: (301) 435–1778; Fax: (301) 451–2043; email: khanm@csr,nih.gov. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Other required documents If the applicant is a Federallyrecognized Tribe, Tribal organization, or a Tribal college letters of support from the Chairman, President, Governor or Tribal Health Director is required of all Tribes to be served to show their support of the grant project. Letters of support are intended to document that applicants have Tribal support for the specific grant for which they are applying. All letters of support must accompany the grant application. VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:35 Jan 23, 2008 Jkt 214001 Other Information DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES References for Background Information: Anderson, N.B. Levels of analysis in health science: A framework for integrating sociobehavioral and biomedical research. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1998, 840, 563–576. Ballantine, B., Ballantine, I. (Eds.), Thomas, D.H., Miller, J., White, R., Nabokov, P., Deloria, P.J. (Text by), Joseph, A.M. (Intro.) The Native Americans: An Illustrated History. Turner Publishing, Inc. Atlanta, GA, 1993. Freeman, W.L. The role of community in research with stored tissue samples. Weir R (Ed.) Stored tissue samples: Ethical, legal, and public policy implications. University Iowa Press. Iowa City, lA, 1998, 267–301. Gazmararian, J.A., Baker, D.W., Williams, M.V., Parker, R.M., Scott, T.L., Green, D.C., Fehrenbach, S.N., Ren, J. & Koplan, J.P. Health literacy among Medicare enrollees in a managed care organization. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1999, 281, 545–551. Haynes, M.A. & Smedley, B.D. (Eds.) The Unequal Burden of Cancer: An Assessment of NIH Programs for Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved. Institute of Medicine. National Academy Press. Washington, DC, 1999. Macaulay, A.C., Commanda, L.E., Freeman, W.L., Gibson, N., McCabe, M.L., Robbins, C.M., & Twohig, P.L., (for the) North American Primary Care Research Group. Participatory research maximizes community and lay involvement. British Medical Journal, 1999, 319, 774–778. Minority Economic Profiles. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Division. Issued July 24, 1992. (Tables 1990 CPH–L–92, 93, 94 and 95). NIH Publication 98–4247. Women of Color Health Data Book. Office of Research On Women’s Health, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, 1998. Trends in Indian Health 1998–99. Program Statistics Team, Office of Public Health, Indian Health Service, 2001. Regional Differences in Indian Health 1998–99. Program Statistics Team, Office of Public Health, Indian Health Service, 2000. Weiss, B.D., Reed, R.L., & Kligman, E.W. Literary skills and communication methods of low-income older persons. Patient Education and Counseling, 1995, 25, 109– 119. Williams, D.R. & Collins, C. U.S. Socioeconomic and Racial Differences in Health: Patterns and Explanations. Annual Review of Sociology, 1995, 21, 349–386. Williams, M.V., Parker, R.M., Baker, D.W., Parikh, N.S., Pitkin, K., Coates, W.C., & Nurss, J.R. Inadequate functional health literacy among patients at two public hospitals. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1995, 274, 1677–1682. Dated: January 16, 2008. Robert G. McSwain, Acting Director, Indian Health Service. [FR Doc. 08–243 Filed 01–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165–16–M PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Office of Inspector General Solicitation of Information and Recommendations for Revising the Compliance Program Guidance for Nursing Facilities Office of Inspector General (OIG), HHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This Federal Register notice seeks the input and recommendations of interested parties as OIG revises the compliance program guidance (CPG) for nursing facilities, especially those serving Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal health care program beneficiaries. The nursing home industry has experienced a number of changes since OIG first published a CPG in this area (65 FR 14289; March 16, 2000). Additionally, the subsequent years of enforcement and compliance activity in the nursing home industry has allowed OIG to address more fully the various risk areas in nursing home compliance. In evaluating the contents of the nursing facility CPG, OIG is soliciting comments, recommendations, and other suggestions from concerned parties and organizations on how best to revise the nursing facility CPG to address relevant compliance issues. Specifically, OIG seeks comments addressing any changes to existing risk areas and introducing any new risk areas. SUMMARY: To assure consideration, comments must be delivered to the address provided below by no later than 5 p.m. on February 25, 2008. ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code OIG–126–N. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission. You may submit comments in one of three ways (no duplicates, please): 1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific recommendations and suggestions through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. (Attachments should be in Microsoft Word, if possible.) 2. By regular, express, or overnight mail. You may send written comments to the following address: Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: OIG– 126–N, Room 5246, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to DATES: E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 16 / Thursday, January 24, 2008 / Notices be received before the close of the comment period. 3. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver, by hand or courier, your written comments before the close period to Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Because access to the interior of the Cohen Building is not readily available to persons without Federal Government identification, commenters are encouraged to schedule their delivery with one of our staff members at (202) 358–3141. Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the end of the comment period are available for viewing by the public. All comments will be posted on https:// www.regulations.gov as soon as possible after they have been received. Comments received timely will also be available for public inspection as they are received at Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view public comments, phone (202) 619–0089. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel Schaer, OIG Regulations Officer, (202) 619–0089; Amanda Walker, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General, (202) 619–0335; or Catherine Hess, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General, (202) 619–1306. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The development of CPGs is a major initiative of OIG in its effort to engage the private health care industry in addressing and combating fraud and abuse. Over the past several years, OIG has developed and issued CPGs directed at various segments of the health care industry. These guidances are designed to provide clear direction and assistance to specific sections of the health care industry that are interested in addressing compliance with Federal health care program requirements. The CPGs set forth OIG’s suggestions on how providers can most effectively establish internal controls and implement monitoring procedures to identify, correct, and prevent potentially fraudulent conduct. The suggestions contained in the CPGs are not mandatory for providers, nor do they represent an exclusive discussion of the advisable elements of a compliance program. Through this Federal Register notice, OIG is seeking input from interested VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:35 Jan 23, 2008 Jkt 214001 parties as OIG considers revising the CPG for the nursing home industry. OIG will consider all comments, recommendations, and suggestions received within the time frame indicated above. OIG would appreciate specific comments, recommendations, and suggestions on risk areas for the nursing home industry, such as the submission of false claims, as well as quality of care concerns, kickbacks, and accurate reporting of data to Medicare and Medicaid. Detailed justifications and empirical data supporting any suggestions would be appreciated. We request that any comments, recommendations, or suggestions be submitted in a format that addresses the topics outlined above in a concise manner rather than in the form of a comprehensive draft guidance that mirrors previous CPGs. Dated: January 16, 2008. Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General. [FR Doc. E8–1213 Filed 1–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150–04–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [USCG–2007–29053] Collection of Information Under Review by Office of Management and Budget: OMB Control Numbers: 1625– 0024, 1625–0036, 1625–0061, and 1625–0100 Coast Guard, DHS. Thirty-day notice requesting comments. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding four Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collections of information: (1) 1625–0024, Safety Approval of Cargo Containers; (2) 1625–0036, Plan Approval and Records for U.S. and Foreign Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk; (3) 1625–0061, Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Regulations; and (4) 1625–0100, Advance Notice of Vessel Arrival. Our ICRs describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4249 commensurate with our performance of duties. DATES: Please submit comments on or before February 25, 2008. ADDRESSES: To make sure your comments and related material do not enter the Coast Guard docket [USCG– 2007–29053] or OIRA more than once, please submit them by only one of the following means: (1) Electronic submission. (a) To Coast Guard docket at https:// www.regulations.gov. (b) To OIRA by e-mail to: nlesser@omb.eop.gov. (2) Mail or Hand delivery. (a) To Docket Management Facility (M–30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001. Hand deliver between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202–366–9329. (b) To OIRA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, to the attention of the Desk Officer for the Coast Guard. (3) Fax. (a) To Docket Management Facility at 202–493–2251 (b) To: OIRA at 202–395–6566. To ensure your comments are received in time, mark the fax to the attention of Mr. Nathan Lesser, Desk Officer for the Coast Guard. The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this notice. Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room W12–140 on the West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov. Copies of complete ICRs are available through this docket on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Additionally, copies are available from Commandant (CG–611), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, (Attn: Mr. Arthur Requina), 2100 2nd Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593–0001. The telephone number is 202–475–3523. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Arthur Requina, Office of Information Management, telephone 202–475–3523 or fax 202–475–3929, for questions on these documents. Contact Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 202–366–9826, for questions on the docket. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard invites comments on whether these information collection requests E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4248-4249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1213]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of Inspector General


Solicitation of Information and Recommendations for Revising the 
Compliance Program Guidance for Nursing Facilities

AGENCY: Office of Inspector General (OIG), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This Federal Register notice seeks the input and 
recommendations of interested parties as OIG revises the compliance 
program guidance (CPG) for nursing facilities, especially those serving 
Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal health care program 
beneficiaries. The nursing home industry has experienced a number of 
changes since OIG first published a CPG in this area (65 FR 14289; 
March 16, 2000). Additionally, the subsequent years of enforcement and 
compliance activity in the nursing home industry has allowed OIG to 
address more fully the various risk areas in nursing home compliance. 
In evaluating the contents of the nursing facility CPG, OIG is 
soliciting comments, recommendations, and other suggestions from 
concerned parties and organizations on how best to revise the nursing 
facility CPG to address relevant compliance issues. Specifically, OIG 
seeks comments addressing any changes to existing risk areas and 
introducing any new risk areas.

DATES: To assure consideration, comments must be delivered to the 
address provided below by no later than 5 p.m. on February 25, 2008.

ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code OIG-126-N. Because 
of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by 
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
    You may submit comments in one of three ways (no duplicates, 
please):
    1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific 
recommendations and suggestions through the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
at https://www.regulations.gov. (Attachments should be in Microsoft 
Word, if possible.)
    2. By regular, express, or overnight mail. You may send written 
comments to the following address: Office of Inspector General, 
Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: OIG-126-N, Room 
5246, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20201. Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to

[[Page 4249]]

be received before the close of the comment period.
    3. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver, by hand or 
courier, your written comments before the close period to Office of 
Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cohen 
Building, 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Because 
access to the interior of the Cohen Building is not readily available 
to persons without Federal Government identification, commenters are 
encouraged to schedule their delivery with one of our staff members at 
(202) 358-3141.
    Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the end 
of the comment period are available for viewing by the public. All 
comments will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov as soon as 
possible after they have been received. Comments received timely will 
also be available for public inspection as they are received at Office 
of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cohen 
Building, 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, Monday 
through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an 
appointment to view public comments, phone (202) 619-0089.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel Schaer, OIG Regulations Officer, 
(202) 619-0089; Amanda Walker, Office of Counsel to the Inspector 
General, (202) 619-0335; or Catherine Hess, Office of Counsel to the 
Inspector General, (202) 619-1306.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The development of CPGs is a major 
initiative of OIG in its effort to engage the private health care 
industry in addressing and combating fraud and abuse. Over the past 
several years, OIG has developed and issued CPGs directed at various 
segments of the health care industry. These guidances are designed to 
provide clear direction and assistance to specific sections of the 
health care industry that are interested in addressing compliance with 
Federal health care program requirements.
    The CPGs set forth OIG's suggestions on how providers can most 
effectively establish internal controls and implement monitoring 
procedures to identify, correct, and prevent potentially fraudulent 
conduct. The suggestions contained in the CPGs are not mandatory for 
providers, nor do they represent an exclusive discussion of the 
advisable elements of a compliance program.
    Through this Federal Register notice, OIG is seeking input from 
interested parties as OIG considers revising the CPG for the nursing 
home industry. OIG will consider all comments, recommendations, and 
suggestions received within the time frame indicated above. OIG would 
appreciate specific comments, recommendations, and suggestions on risk 
areas for the nursing home industry, such as the submission of false 
claims, as well as quality of care concerns, kickbacks, and accurate 
reporting of data to Medicare and Medicaid. Detailed justifications and 
empirical data supporting any suggestions would be appreciated.
    We request that any comments, recommendations, or suggestions be 
submitted in a format that addresses the topics outlined above in a 
concise manner rather than in the form of a comprehensive draft 
guidance that mirrors previous CPGs.

    Dated: January 16, 2008.
Daniel R. Levinson,
Inspector General.
 [FR Doc. E8-1213 Filed 1-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-04-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.