Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human 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) 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 currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Information Collection Requirements Contained in 45 CFR Part 162; HIPAA Standards for Electronic Transactions; Use: This submission contains information collection requirements in HCFA-0149-F, CMS-0003-P, CMS-0005-P, and CMS-003/005-F. This collection establishes standards for electronic transactions and for code sets to be used in those transactions. The collection standardizes the approximately 400 formats of electronic health care claims used in the United States. The use of these standards significantly reduces the administrative burden associated with paper documents, lowers operating costs, and improves data quality for health care providers and health plans; Form Number: CMS-R-218 (OMB# 0938-0866); Frequency: On occasion; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 3,400,000; Total Annual Responses: 3,400,000; Total Annual Hours: 1.

2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Certificate of Destruction for Data Acquired from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Use: The Certificate of Destruction will be used by recipients of CMS data to certify that they have destroyed the data they have received through a CMS Data Use Agreement (DUA). The DUA requires the destruction of the data at the completion of the project/expiration of the DUA. The DUA addresses the conditions under which CMS will disclose and the User will maintain CMS data that are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, § 552a and the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996. CMS has developed policies and procedures for such disclosures that are based on the Privacy Act and the Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPAA). The Certificate of Destruction is required to close out the DUA and to ensure the data are destroyed and not used for another purpose. Form Number: CMS-10252 (OMB# 0938—New); Frequency: On occasion; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 500; Total Annual Responses: 500; Total Annual Hours: 84.

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 proposed information collections must be received at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on February 12, 2008.

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.