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

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 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 May 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting on the proposed information collections, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-5806 OR, Email: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.

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.

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

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

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 with change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey; Use: The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) is the most comprehensive and complete survey available on the Medicare population and is essential in capturing data not otherwise collected through our operations. The MCBS is an in-person, nationally-representative, longitudinal survey of Medicare beneficiaries that we sponsor and is directed by the Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics (OEDA). The survey captures beneficiary information whether aged or disabled, living in the community or facility, or serviced by managed care or fee-for-service. Data produced as part of the MCBS are enhanced with our administrative data (e.g. fee-for-service claims, prescription drug event data, enrollment, etc.) to provide users with more accurate and complete estimates of total health care costs and utilization. The MCBS has been continuously fielded for more than 26 years, encompassing over 1 million interviews and more than 100,000 survey participants. Respondents participate in up to 11 interviews over a four year period. This gives a comprehensive picture of health care costs and utilization over a period of time. Form Number: CMS- P-0015A (OMB control number 0938-0568); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 13,656; Total Annual Responses: 35,998; Total Annual Hours: 42,610. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact William S. Long at 410.786.7927.)

2. Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Testing of Web Survey Design and Administration for CMS Experience of Care Surveys; Use: This collection is a new generic clearance request which encompasses an array of research activities to add web administration protocols to a series of surveys conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This request seeks burden hours to allow CMS and its contractors to conduct cognitive in-depth interviews, focus groups, pilot tests, and usability studies to support a variety of methodological studies around web modes of data collection for programs such as the Emergency Department Experience of Care (EDPEC), Fee-for-Service (FFS) Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Hospital CAHPS (HCAHPS), Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug (MA & PDP) CAHPS, Home Health (HH) CAHPS, Hospice CAHPS, In-Center Hemodialysis (ICH) CAHPS, the Health Outcomes Survey (HOS), and the Medicare Advantage and Part D Plan Disenrollment Reasons surveys. Form Number: CMS-10694 (OMB control number 0938-New); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 75,250; Total Annual Responses: 75,250; Total Annual Hours: 17,000. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Elizabeth H.Goldstein at 410-786-6665.)