Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services.

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 (the PRA), federal agencies are require; to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates 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.

DATES:

Comments must be received by July 15, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:

1. Electronically. You may send your comments electronically to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for “Comment or Submission” or “More Search Options” to find the information collection document(s) that are accepting comments.

2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB Control Number ____, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, you may make your request using one of following:

1. Access CMS' Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995.

2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov.

3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Contents

This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated with the following information collections. More detailed information can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see ADDRESSES).

CMS-838 Medicare Credit Balance Reporting Requirements

CMS-10157 HIPPA Eligibility Tracking System

CMS-10469 Issuer Reporting Requirements for Selecting a Cost-Sharing Reductions Reconciliation Methodology

Under the 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 requires federal agencies to publish a 60-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.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Credit Balance Reporting Requirements; Use: Quarterly credit balance reporting is needed to monitor and control the identification and timely collection of improper payments. Credit balances are mainly attributable to provider billing practices and cannot be eliminated by program functions; they will continue to occur. The OIG issued a Management Advisory Report (MAR) on their extended review of credit balances (See Attachment). They state that approximately 90 percent of credit balances result from providers: (1) Billing Medicare and a private insurer for the same service, (2) submitting duplicate billings for services in a manner which cannot be detected by system edits, and (3) billing for services not performed. The MAR recommends that CMS continue its plan of recovery by requiring hospitals to report Medicare credit balances to contractors on a quarterly basis. Form Number: CMS-838 (OMB control number: 0938-0600); Frequency: Quarterly; Affected Public: Private sector (Business or other For-profits); Number of Respondents: 52,582; Total Annual Responses: 210,328; Total Annual Hours: 630,984. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Anita Crosier at 410-786-0217).

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: HIPPA Eligibility Tracking System; Use: Federal law requires that CMS take precautions to minimize the security risk to the federal information system. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 1( ) 1-2 Paragraph 11.7—Security and Authentication states that: “Agencies shall employ risk management techniques to determine the appropriate mix of security controls needed to protect specific data and systems. The selection of controls shall take into account procedures required under applicable laws and regulations.” Accordingly, CMS requires that entities who wish to connect to the HETS application via the CMS Extranet and/or Internet are uniquely identified. CMS is required to verify the identity of the person requesting the Protected Health Information (PHI) and the person's authority to have access to Medicare eligibility information. Furthermore, CMS requires that trading partners who wish to conduct eligibility transactions on a real-time basis with CMS provide certain assurances as a condition of receiving access to the Medicare eligibility information for the purpose of conducting real-time 270/271 inquiry/response transactions. Form Number: CMS-10157 (OMB control number: 0938-0960); Frequency: Quarterly; Affected Public: Private sector (Business or other For-profits and Not-For-Profits); Number of Respondents: 2,000; Total Annual Responses: 2,000; Total Annual Hours: 250. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Rupinder Singh at 410-786-7484).

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Issuer Reporting Requirements for Selecting a Cost-Sharing Reductions Reconciliation Methodology; Use: Sections 1402 and 1412 of the Affordable Care Act provide for reductions in cost sharing on essential health benefits for low- and moderate-income enrollees in silver level qualified health plans (QHP) on individual market Exchanges. It also provides for reductions in cost sharing for Indians enrolled in QHPs at any metal level. These cost-sharing reductions will help eligible individuals and families afford the out-of-pocket spending associated with health care services provided through Exchange-based QHP coverage.

The law directs QHP issuers to notify the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of cost-sharing reductions made under the statute for qualified individuals, and directs the Secretary to make periodic and timely payments to the QHP issuer equal to the value of those reductions. Further, the law permits advance payment of the cost-sharing reduction amounts to QHP issuers based upon amounts specified by the Secretary.

Under established HHS regulations, QHP issuers will receive advance payments of the cost-sharing reductions throughout the year. Each issuer will then be subject to one of two reconciliation processes after the year to ensure that HHS reimbursed each issuer the correct advance cost-sharing amount. This information collection request establishes the data collection requirements for a QHP issuer to report to HHS which reconciliation reporting option the issuer will be subject to for a given benefit year. Form Number: CMS-10469 (OMB control number: 0938-1214); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private sector (Businesses or other for-profits); Number of Respondents: 575; Total Annual Responses: 575; Total Annual Hours: 13,200. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Pat Meisol at 410-786-1917.)