Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

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 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 August 30, 2021.

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.

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' website address at website address at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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:

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved information collection; Title of Information Collection: National Implementation of the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS) Survey; Use: The national implementation of OAS CAHPS is designed to allow third-party, CMS-approved survey vendors to administer OAS CAHPS using mail-only, telephone-only, mixed-mode (mail with telephone follow-up), mixed-mode (web with mail follow-up), or mixed-mode (web with telephone follow-up). The information collected in the OAS CAHPS will be used for the following purposes:

• To provide a source of information from which selected measures can be publicly reported to beneficiaries to help them make informed decisions for outpatient surgery facility selection;
• To aid facilities with their internal quality improvement efforts and external benchmarking with other facilities; and
• To provide CMS with information for monitoring and public reporting purposes.

CMS established a reporting program in which ASCs and HOPDs can choose to participate in the survey and also choose whether or not to publicly report data. HOPD and ASC facilities that choose to participate contract with a CMS-approved, independent third-party survey vendor to implement the survey on their behalf and to submit the OAS CAHPS data to CMS. CMS publicly reports comparative results from OAS CAHPS after each facility has conducted data collection for 12 months. OAS CAHPS measures, enable consumers to make more informed decisions when choosing an outpatient surgery facility, aid facilities in their quality improvement efforts, and help CMS monitor the performance of outpatient surgery facilities. Form Number: CMS-10500 (OMB control number: 0938-1240); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: Individuals and Households, Business or other for-profits, Not-for-profit institutions and State, Local and Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 993,300; Total Annual Responses: 993,300; Total Annual Hours: 221,100. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Memuna Ifedirah at 410-786-6849.)