Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

DATES:

Comments on the collection(s) of information must be received by the OMB desk officer by August 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, please access the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (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 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires federal agencies to publish a 30-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 that summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for public comment:

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities; Use: The purpose of this package is to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the collection of information requirements for the requirements of participation for Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities that must be met in order to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. LTC facilities include skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) as defined in section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act in the Medicare program and nursing facilities (NFs) as defined in 1919(a) of the Act in the Medicaid program. SNFs and NFs provide skilled nursing care and related services for residents who require medical or nursing care, or rehabilitation services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled, or sick persons. In addition, NFs provide health-related care and services to individuals who because of their mental or physical condition require care and services (above the level of room and board) which can be made available to them only through institutional facilities, and is not primarily for the care and treatment of mental diseases. SNFs and NFs must care for their residents in such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or enhancement of the quality of life of each resident and must provide to residents services to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident, in accordance with a written plan of care, which describes the medical, nursing, and psychosocial needs of the resident and how such needs will be met and is updated periodically.

The primary users of this information will be State agency surveyors, CMS, and the LTC facilities for the purposes of ensuring compliance with Medicare and Medicaid requirements as well as ensuring the quality of care provided to LTC facility residents. The ICs specified in the regulations may be used as a basis for determining whether a LTC is meeting the requirements to participate in the Medicare program. In addition, the information collected for purposes of ensuring compliance may be used to inform the data provided on CMS' Nursing Home Compare website and as such used by the public in considering nursing home selections for services.

We are revising this information collection request to include new requirements proposed at 42 CFR 483.35 and 483.71. The proposed requirements were discussed in detail in the proposed rule that published September 6, 2023 (88 FR 61352). The discussion related to proposed requirements and the associated information collection burden begins on page 61391. Subsequent to publishing the 60-day Federal Register (89 FR 26892), the final rule (89 FR 40876) finalized the new requirements. Based upon our analysis of the public comments received on the proposed rule, we revised our burden estimates by adding a burden estimate for LTC facilities to solicit and consider any input received by residents, resident representatives, and family members. Form Number: CMS-10573 (OMB control number: 0938-1363); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 15,600; Total Annual Responses: 18,687,318 Total Annual Hours: 30,206,846. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Diane Corning at 410-786-8486.)