[Federal Register: April 15, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 72)]
[Notices]               
[Page 18624-18625]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap99-68]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-279]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, HHS.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Health Care Financing 
Administration (HCFA), Department of Health and Human Services, is 
publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public 
comment.

[[Page 18625]]

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.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection;
    Title of Information Collection: Study to Develop a Classification 
System for Patients in Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals and Exempt 
Rehabilitation Units;
    Form No.: HCFA-R-279 (OMB# 0938-NEW);
    Use: To conduct a study using patient and facility characteristics 
and resource utilization as determined by staff time measurement to 
develop a classification and payment system for Medicare beneficiaries. 
This information will be used to develop a classification system for 
Medicare patients using rehabilitation services in inpatient 
rehabilitation hospitals and exempt rehabilitation units. This 
classification system will be referred to as Rehabilitation Resources 
Groups, Version 2000 (R2G2).
    The purpose of this study is to develop, assess, and test this 
classification system through a representative sample of inpatient 
rehabilitation hospitals and exempt units (note that throughout this 
request, we will refer to rehabilitation facilities; these include both 
freestanding rehabilitation hospitals and exempt rehabilitation units). 
The principal goal is to determine the extent to which measurable 
patient characteristics permit classifying patients into identifiable 
groups that accurately predict the use of resources in these 
facilities.
    Patient characteristics will be collected using the Minimum Data 
Set for Post Acute Care (MDS-PAC) (previously approved; OMB No. 0938-
0720). This instrument collects demographic and clinical information 
that will be used to develop the classification system. We are 
requesting utilization of this instrument, as revised and tested to 
include specific variables designed to collect information on patients 
using rehabilitation services. Secondary analysis of existing data has 
provided information used to develop the sampling plan. Medicare 
administrative files (including the cost reports, OSCAR files, and the 
Standard Analytic National Claims History 100 percent file) were used 
to develop the sampling frame for this study.
    We will be using a staff time measurement study to collect 
information within the sampled rehabilitation facilities to assess the 
resources utilized by Medicare beneficiaries. While the staff time 
measurement has been used in other studies to develop both resource 
utilization and payment methodologies (i.e., staff time measurement was 
used to develop the prospective payment system for skilled nursing 
homes), this is the first time that direct, on-site information will be 
collected regarding resource utilization in rehabilitation facilities.
    The methodology is similar to the Resource Utilization Groups (RUG) 
methodology used by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to 
identify patient characteristics related to variance in patients' needs 
for resources in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and to develop the 
SNF prospective payment system (PPS).
    HCFA is requesting clearance of the study, including the sample, 
sample selection methodology, and data collection plans, including 
staff time measurement and use of the revised MDS-PAC. This study will 
enable HCFA to develop, test, and assess a classification system for 
inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and exempt rehabilitation units:
    Frequency: On occasion;
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, and Not-for-profit 
institutions;
    Number of Respondents: 4,000;
    Total Annual Responses: 4,000;
    Total Annual Hours: 6,800.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's 
Web Site address at http://www.hcfa.gov/regs/prdact95.htm, or E-mail 
your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and 
HCFA document identifier, to Paperwork@hcfa.gov, or call the Reports 
Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed 
within 60 days of this notice directly to the HCFA Paperwork Clearance 
Officer designated at the following address: HCFA, Office of 
Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA 
Enterprise Standards, Attention: Dawn Willinghan, Room N2-14-26, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: April 8, 1999.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-9423 Filed 4-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P