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: Inpatient Rehabilitation Assessment Instrument and Data Set for PPS for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR Sections 412.23, 412.604, 412.606, 412.610, 412.614, 412.618, 412.626, 413.64; Form Number: CMS-10036 (OMB#: 0938-0842); Use: This is a request to use the IRF-PAI (Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities—Patient Assessment Instrument) and its supporting manual for the implementation phase of the Inpatient Rehabilitation PPS (Prospective Payment System). This payment system is to cover both operating and capital costs for inpatient rehabilitation hospital services. It will apply to rehabilitation units of acute care hospitals as well as to rehabilitation hospitals, both of which are exempt from the current Medicare PPS which is generally applicable for inpatient hospital services. Use of this instrument will enable CMS to implement a classification and payment system for the legislatively mandated inpatient rehabilitation hospital and the aforementioned exempt units. Frequency: Recordkeeping, third party disclosure and reporting—On occasion; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 1,165; Total Annual Responses: 390,000; Total Annual Hours: 421,939.

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.

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 November 15, 2005. CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Bonnie L Harkless, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.