[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 33 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8375-8376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3044]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10134 and CMS-10138]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing 
the following summary of proposed collections for public comment. 
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden 
estimate 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.
    We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information 
collections referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of 
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following 
requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency 
review because the collection of this information is needed before the 
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with an initiative of 
the Administration and is required in order to meet the demands of new 
legislation. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance 
procedures because of statutory deadlines.
    The Benefits Improvement & Protection Act of 2000 mandated the 
Physician Group Practice (PGP) Demonstration and gave the Secretary 
discretion to use quality measures to assess physician performance in 
order to reward them for improvements in the quality and efficiency of 
health care.
    The Medicare Care Management Performance (MCMP) Demonstration was 
authorized by Section 649 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, 
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). The project requires 
the Secretary to establish a pay-for-performance 3-year pilot with 
physicians to promote the adoption and use of health information 
technology to improve the quality of patient care for chronically ill 
Medicare patients. The mandate specifies that rewards shall be based on 
the electronic reporting of clinical quality and outcomes measures in 
accordance with requirements established by the Secretary under the 
demonstration program.
    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
April 1, 2005, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendation will be considered from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by March 18, 2005.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Physician Group Practice (PGP) Standardized 
Ambulatory Care Quality Measure Collection Initiative; Use: The 
Benefits Improvement & Protection Act of 2000 mandated the Physician 
Group Practice (PGP) Demonstration and gave the Secretary discretion to 
use quality measures to assess physician performance in order to reward 
them for improvements in the quality and efficiency of health care. 
This demonstration is intended to strengthen the Medicare program by 
offering innovative models to people on Medicare that improve quality 
and access and lower costs. As a result, people on Medicare will 
directly benefit from these innovative models.; Form Number: CMS-10134 
(OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: 
Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 10; Total Annual Responses: 10; Total Annual Hours: 790.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Medicare Care Management Performance (MCMP) 
Demonstration--Standardized Ambulatory Care Quality Collection 
Initiative; Use: The MCMP Demonstration was authorized by Section 649 
of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act 
of 2003 (MMA). This project requires the Secretary to establish a pay-
for-performance 3-year pilot with physicians to promote the adoption 
and use of health information technology to improve the quality of 
patient care for chronically ill Medicare patients. This demonstration 
represents the first pay for performance project fostering the adoption 
of health information technology in small physician group practices and 
will enable a test of the concept to improve the quality and efficiency 
of care in Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare.; Form Number: CMS-10138 
(OMB 0938-NEW); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Business 
or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 800; Total Annual Responses: 800; Total Annual Hours: 
15,200.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS's 
Web Site address at http://cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/, or E-mail your 
request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS 
document identifier, to [email protected], or call the Reports 
Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
    Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information 
requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information 
collection and recordkeeping requirements must be received by the 
designees referenced below by March 18, 2005: CMS, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, 
Attention: Dawn Willinghan, CMS-10134 and CMS-10138, Room C5-14-03, 
7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850; and, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, Attn.: 
Christopher Martin, Desk Officer, Fax  202-395-6974.


[[Page 8376]]


    Dated: February 8, 2005.
John P. Burke, III,
CMS Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Regulations Development 
Group.
[FR Doc. 05-3044 Filed 2-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4320-03-P