80 FR 55284 - Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities; Reopening of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 178 (September 15, 2015)

This document reopens the comment period for the July 16, 2015 proposed rule entitled ``Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities''. The comment period for the proposed rule, which ends on September 14, 2015, is reopened for 30 days.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55284-55285]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23110]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Parts 405, 431, 447, 482, 483, 485, and 488

[CMS-3260-N]
RIN 0938-AR61


Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Reform of Requirements for Long-
Term Care Facilities; Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document reopens the comment period for the July 16, 2015 
proposed rule entitled ``Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care 
Facilities''. The comment period for the proposed rule, which ends on 
September 14, 2015, is reopened for 30 days.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on July 16, 
2015 (80 FR 42168), is reopened and ends on October 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-3260-P. Because 
of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by 
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
    You may submit comments in one of four ways (please choose only one 
of the ways listed):
    1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this 
regulation to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the ``Submit a 
comment'' instructions.
    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following 
address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of 
Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-3260-P, P.O. Box 8010, 
Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received 
before the close of the comment period.
    3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to 
the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 
Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-3260-P, Mail 
Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    4. By hand or courier. Alternatively, you may deliver (by hand or 
courier) your written comments ONLY to the following addresses prior to 
the close of the comment period:
    a. For delivery in Washington, DC--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 445-G, Hubert 
H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20201.
    (Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building 
is not readily available to persons without federal government 
identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in 
the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-
in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing 
by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being 
filed.)
    b. For delivery in Baltimore, MD--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

[[Page 55285]]

    If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, 
call telephone number (410) 786-9994 in advance to schedule your 
arrival with one of our staff members.
    Comments erroneously mailed to the addresses indicated as 
appropriate for hand or courier delivery may be delayed and received 
after the comment period.
    For information on viewing public comments, see the beginning of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronisha Blackstone, (410) 786-6633.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 16, 2015, we published a proposed 
rule in the Federal Register (80 FR 42168) entitled, ``Reform of 
Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities'' that would revise the 
requirements that long-term care facilities must meet to participate in 
the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The proposed provisions include 
updating obsolete language, improving clarity, addressing ongoing 
healthcare priorities, and implementing certain Affordable Care Act 
provisions. These proposed changes are necessary to reflect the 
substantial advances that have been made over the past several years in 
the theory and practice of service delivery and safety. These proposals 
are also an integral part of our efforts to achieve broad-based 
improvements both in the quality of health care furnished through 
federal programs, and in patient safety, while at the same time 
reducing procedural burdens on providers.
    We have received inquiries from Hospital Associations and national 
industry organizations regarding the 60 day period to submit comments 
regarding this proposed rule. The organizations stated that they needed 
additional time to respond to the rule due to the scope and complexity 
of the proposal. Because of the scope of the proposed rule, and since 
we have specifically requested the public's comments on various aspect 
of the rule, we believe that it is important to allow ample time for 
the public to prepare comments on this proposed rule. Therefore, we 
have decided to reopen the comment period for an additional 30 days. 
This document announces the reopening of the public comment period to 
end on October 14, 2015.

    Dated: September 9, 2015.
Andrew M. Slavitt,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-23110 Filed 9-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P