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 without change of a currently approved collection. Title of Information Collection: Deficiencies and Plan of Correction (CMS-2567) and Supporting Regulations contained in 42 CFR 488.18, 488.26, and 488.28. Use: Section 1864(a) of the Social Security Act requires that the Secretary use State survey agencies to conduct surveys to determine whether health care facilities meet Medicare and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments participation requirements. The CMS-2567 form is the means by which the survey findings are documented. This section of the law further requires that compliance findings resulting from these surveys be made available to the public within 90 days of such surveys. The CMS-2567 from is the vehicle for this disclosure. The regulations at 42 CFR 488.18 require that State survey agencies document all deficiency findings on a statement of deficiencies and plan of correction, which is the CMS-2567. 42 CFR 488.26 and 488.28 further delineate how compliance findings must be recorded and that CMS prescribed forms must be used.

The form is also used by health care facilities to document their plan of correction and by CMS, the States, facilities, purchasers, consumers, advocacy groups, and the public as a source of information about quality of care and facility compliance.

Form Number: CMS-2567 (OCN 0938-0391). Frequency: Yearly and occasionally. Affected Public: Private Sector (Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions). Number of Respondents: 62,000. Total Annual Responses: 62,000. Total Annual Hours: 134,540. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Angela Mason-Elbert at 410-786-8279. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

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 Email 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.

In commenting on the proposed information collections please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of the following ways by September 17, 2012.

1. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for “Comment or Submission” or “More Search Options” to find the information collection document(s) accepting comments.

2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB Control Number ___, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.