Section 304 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 requires CMS to collect wage data on hospital employees by occupational category, at least once every 3 years, in order to construct an occupational mix adjustment to the wage index. CMS first collected occupational mix data in 2003 for the FY 2005 wage index and a subsequent collection of occupational mix data was performed in 2006 for the FY 2007 and FY 2008 wage index. In response to industry comments suggesting ways to improve the occupational mix survey, CMS has revised the 2007/2008 survey that was used to calculate the FY 2010 wage index. We are revising the 2007/2008 survey to collect for a 12- month period (that is, from pay periods ending between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010). The revised occupational mix survey will be used to adjust the FY 2013 wage index.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.