Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Contents

This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated with the following information collections. More detailed information can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see ADDRESSES ).

CMS-10539 Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Home Health Facilities (HHAs) and Supporting Regulations

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. The term “collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires federal agencies to publish a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this notice.

Information Collections

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Home Health Facilities (HHAs) and Supporting Regulations ; Use: Home health services are covered for the elderly and disabled under the Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Supplemental Medical Insurance (Part B) benefits of the Medicare program and are described in section 1861(m) of the Social Security Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395x). These services must be furnished by, or under arrangement with, an HHA that participates in the Medicare program, and be provided on a visiting basis in the beneficiary's home. They may include the following:

• Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care furnished by or under the supervision of a registered nurse.
• Physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or occupational therapy.
• Medical social services under the direction of a physician.
• Part-time or intermittent home health aide services.
• Medical supplies (other than drugs and biologicals) and durable medical equipment.
• Services of interns and residents if the HHA is owned by or affiliated with a hospital that has an approved medical education program.
• Services at hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), or rehabilitation centers when they involve equipment too cumbersome to bring to the home.

Under the authority of sections 1861(o), 1871 and 1891 of the Act, the Secretary has established in regulations the requirements that an HHA must meet to participate in the Medicare program. These requirements are set forth in 42 CFR part 484 as Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies. The CoPs apply to an HHA as an entity as well as the services furnished to each individual under the care of the HHA, unless a condition is specifically limited to Medicare beneficiaries. Under section 1891(b) of the Act, the Secretary is responsible for assuring that the CoPs, and their enforcement, are adequate to protect the health and safety of individuals under the care of an HHA and to promote the effective and efficient use of Medicare funds. To implement this requirement, State survey agencies generally conduct surveys of HHAs to determine whether they are complying with the CoPs. Form Number: CMS-10539 (OMB Control Number: 0938-1299); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private Sector (Business or other for-profit, and not-for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 20,765; Number of Responses: 12,300,588 Total Annual Hours: 870,000. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Claudia Molinar at claudia.molinar@cms.hhs.gov.)

[FR Doc. 2024-22536 Filed 9-30-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P