<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-09-21-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0938-AQ96</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201110</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0938</CODE>
            <NAME>Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>CMS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0900</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Health and Human Services</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>HHS</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Regulatory Provisions To Promote Program Efficiency, Transparency, and Burden Reduction (CMS-9070-P)</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This proposed rule identifies and proposes reforms in Medicare and Medicaid regulations that CMS has identified as unnecessary, obsolete, or excessively burdensome on health care providers and beneficiaries. This proposed rule would increase the ability of health care professionals to devote resources to improving patient care, by eliminating or reducing requirements that impede quality patient care or that divert providing high quality patient care.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Economically Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>Yes</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>42 CFR 400, 405, 416, 418, 423</CFR>
            <CFR>42 CFR 424, 440, 442, 486, 494</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 1302 and 1395hh and 44 USC 35</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[In January 2011, the President issued an Executive order that requires agencies to identify rules that may be "outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them in accordance with what has been learned."  In accordance with the Executive order, we identified obsolete and unnecessarily burdensome rules that could be eliminated or reformed to achieve similar objectives, with a particular focus on freeing up resources that health care providers, health plans, and States could use to improve or enhance patient health and safety. We examined policies and practices not codified in rules that could be changed or streamlined to achieve better outcomes for patients while reducing burden on providers of care.  We also sought to increase transparency and become a better business partner.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[The provisions that are included in this proposed rule are necessary to implement the requirements of Executive Order 13563 "Improving Regulations and Regulatory Review."]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[To date, nearly 90 specific reforms have been identified and scheduled for action. These reforms impact hospitals, physicians, home health agencies, ambulance providers, clinical labs, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, managed care plans, Medicare Advantage organizations, and States.  Many of these reforms will be included in proposed rules that relate to particular categories of regulations or types of providers.  Other reforms are being implemented without the need for regulations.  This proposed rule includes reforms that do not fit directly in other rules scheduled for publication.]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[We anticipate that the provider industry and health professionals would welcome the proposed changes and reductions in burden.  We also expect that health professionals would experience increased efficiencies and resources to appropriately devote to improving patient care, increasing accessibility to care, and reducing associated health care costs.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[None.]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>10/24/2011</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>76 FR 65909</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/23/2011</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Governmental Jurisdictions</SMALL_ENTITY>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Organizations</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>State</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Michelle</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Shortt</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Director, Regulations Development Group, OSORA</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0938</CODE>
                    <NAME>Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>CMS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>410 786-4675</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>michelle.shortt@cms.hhs.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>21244</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
