Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
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 Pap...
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
( printed page 68151)
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 November 30, 2026.
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.
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.
Information Collections
1.
Type of Information Collection Request:
Revision of a currently approved collection;
Title of Information Collection:
Medicare Outpatient Physical Therapy/Outpatient Speech Pathology (OPT/OSP) Providers Certification Requirements;
Use:
This is a request for revision of Form CMS-381, which is approved for collection under OMB Control Number (0938-0273). CMS has provided greater clarity in the “Instructions for Completing Form CMS-381” and updated CMS website information. The changes included submitting the form during recertification through an attestation process in lieu of an on-site survey by state survey agencies. After the 60-day
Federal Register
notice, which was published May 18, 2026 (91 FR 28596), CMS determined that we would not pursue attestation through recertification. Instead, we will continue recertification through an onsite survey, and CMS removed the attestation instructions. Additionally, a small change in burden resulted from an omission in the calculation.
Form CMS-381 was developed to ensure that each OPT/OSP extension location at which OPT/OSP providers furnish services must be reported by the providers to the State Survey Agencies (SAs). CMS currently requires the CMS-381 form for initial certification, during recertification surveys, and when the OPT/OSP requests changes to its locations. CMS issued guidance consistent with this change via policy memorandum QSO-24-18-OPT.
The OPT/OSP providers may render services on their already approved premises and the premises of other institutions (
e.g.,
skilled nursing facilities) or on a premise owned/leased/rented by the OPT/OSP. If the OPT/OSP bills the Medicare program for these services and renders these services in an area within the institution set aside for rehabilitation care, these premises are considered extension locations of the OPT/OSP. However, a patient's home is not considered an extension location.
Extension locations are considered part of the OPT/OSP provider's primary location and are subject to the same approval policy as is applicable to the OPT/OSP primary site. In addition to meeting applicable sections of the conditions of participation for all outpatient physical therapy/speech pathology providers, these extension locations fall under the OPT/OSP provider agreement and are identified under the OPT/OSP provider number.
Form CMS-381 is completed when:
(1) new OPT/OSP providers enter the Medicare program (initial certification); (2) when existing OPT/OSP providers delete or add a service, or close or add an extension location; or, (3) when existing OPT/OSP providers are recertified by the State Survey Agency (SA) through survey. Note, for deemed OPT/OSP providers under a CMS-approved Accrediting Organization (AO), the CMS-381 will continue to voluntarily be part of the reaccreditation surveys at least every 36 months. Form CMS-381 is used by the SA, AO, and by the CMS Survey Operations Group to identify extension locations where services are furnished by providers of outpatient physical therapy and speech-language pathology services. These locations must be known to surveyors to ensure the appropriate monitoring of providers' compliance with the Federal requirements.
Form Number:
CMS-381 (OMB control number: 0938-0273);
Frequency:
Occasionally;
Affected Public:
Private Sector; Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions;
Number of Respondents:
501;
Total Annual Responses:
501;
Total Annual Hours:
251. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Megan Hayden at 410-786-6029.)
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Division of Information Collections and Regulatory Impacts, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain
www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing
44 U.S.C. 3501-3520
5 CFR 1320.3(c)