[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 189 (Friday, September 30, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57295-57296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19245]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10157, CMS-R-0074, CMS-R-244 and CMS-10163]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS) 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.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: CMS Real-time 
Eligibility Agreement and Access Request; Form Number: CMS-10157 
(OMB: 0938-0960); Use: Federal law requires that CMS take 
precautions to minimize the security risk to Federal information 
systems. Accordingly, CMS is requiring that trading partners who wish 
to conduct the eligibility transaction on a real-time basis to access 
Medicare beneficiary information provide certain assurances as a 
condition of receiving access to the Medicare database for the purpose 
of conducting eligibility verification. Health care providers, 
clearinghouses, and health plans that wish access to the Medicare 
database are required to complete this form. The information will be 
used to assure that those entities that access the Medicare database 
are aware of applicable provisions and penalties. Frequency: 
Recordkeeping and Reporting--One time; Affected Public: Business or 
other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 
122,000; Total Annual Responses: 122,000; Total Annual Hours: 45,000.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Income and 
Eligibility Verification System Reporting in Section 1137 of the Social 
Security Act and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 431.17, 431.306, 
435.910, 435.920, 435.940-435.960; Form Number: CMS-R-0074 
(OMB: 0938-0467); Use: This information is used to verify the 
income and eligibility of Medicaid applicants and recipients as 
required by Section 1137 of the Social Security Act; Affected Public: 
Individuals or Households and State, Local or Tribal Government; Number 
of Respondents: 54; Total Annual Responses: 54; Total Annual Hours: 
124,054.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare and 
Medicaid: Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) 
contained in 42 CFR 460.12-460.210/Medicare and Medicaid: Programs of 
All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE; Program Revisions) contained 
in 42 CFR 460.10-460.210; Form Number: CMS-R-244 (OMB: 0938-
0790); Use: PACE is a pre-paid, capitated plan that provides 
comprehensive health care services to frail, older adults in the 
community, who are eligible for nursing home care according to State 
standards. The Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 authorized coverage of 
PACE under the Medicare program and as a State option under Medicaid. 
The Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement Act of 2000 
(BIPA) amended section 1894 and 1943 of Social Security Act to provide 
authority for CMS to modify or waive PACE regulatory provisions. 
Organizations that seek participation under PACE must apply for 
approval and are evaluated in terms of specific criteria. The 
information collection requirement is necessary to ensure that only 
appropriate organizations are selected to become PACE organizations. 
CMS and the State Administering Agencies will

[[Page 57296]]

use the information to select PACE organizations and monitor their 
performance. Frequency: Recordkeeping, Reporting--Quarterly and 
Annually; Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, Federal 
Government and State, Local, or Tribal Government; Number of 
Respondents: 54; Total Annual Responses: 54; Total Annual Hours: 
44,378.
    4. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: 1-800-MEDICARE 
Customer Experience Questionnaire; Form Number: CMS-10163 
(OMB: 0938-0963); Use: Section 923 (d) of the Medicare 
Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 
established 1-800 MEDICARE as the primary source of general Medicare 
information and assistance. As part of the Medicare Modernization Act 
(MMA), CMS must provide Part D eligibles and their representatives with 
the information they need to make informed decisions among the 
available choices for Part D coverage. Part D sponsors can start 
marketing their programs on October 1, 2005. The initial enrollment 
period for the general population will occur from November 15, 2005 to 
May 15, 2006. The information collected from this survey will allow CMS 
to monitor callers' satisfaction with various aspects of both the 
Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) component and live Customer Service 
Representative (CSR) component of the 1-800 MEDICARE line. Timely 
feedback from customers on key satisfaction indicators will be used for 
continuous quality enhancement. Frequency: Reporting--Weekly, Quarterly 
and Monthly; Affected Public: Individuals and Households; Number of 
Respondents: 31,200; Total Annual Responses: 31,200; Total Annual 
Hours: 4940.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' 
Web site address at http://www.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.
    To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be received at the address below, 
no later than 5 p.m. on November 29, 2005.
    CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Bonnie L. Harkless, 
Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: September 21, 2005.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-19245 Filed 9-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P