[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 76 (Friday, April 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19934-19935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7423]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10217, CMS-R-297 and CMS-10223]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
    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: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Physician Survey for the 2006 Medicare Oncology 
Demonstration Program; Form Numbers: CMS-10217 (OMB: 0938-
New); Use: The 2006 Oncology Demonstration Program aimed to: (1) Have 
oncology payments increasingly focused on patient-centered care, rather 
than chemotherapy administration; (2) learn to what extent Medicare 
beneficiaries are being treated in a manner that yields the best 
outcomes; (3) understand clinical cancer scenarios where there is not 
clinical consensus among physicians on the relevance of specific 
evidence-based practice guidelines; and, (4) ensure that due emphasis 
is placed on multi-disciplinary, comprehensive approach to palliation 
and end of life care. In addition, CMS hoped to reduce the potential 
that unnecessary services and tests are being performed, thereby 
lowering program costs while yielding better quality of life for 
Medicare beneficiaries with cancer. This survey will provide 
information on how physicians, particularly oncologists and 
hematologists, adapted their practice in response to the CMS payment 
incentive, to guide future CMS demonstration projects involving 
oncologists and all specialists. Frequency: Reporting--Once; Affected 
Public: Individuals or households; Number of Respondents: 600; Total 
Annual Responses: 600; Total Annual Hours: 100.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension without change 
of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: 
Request for Employment Information; Form Numbers: CMS-R-297 
(OMB: 0938-0787); Use: Section 1837(i) of the Social Security 
Act provides for a special enrollment period for individuals who delay 
enrolling in Medicare Part B because they are covered by a group health 
plan based on their own or a spouse's current employment status. When 
these individuals apply for Medicare Part B, they must provide proof 
that the group health plan coverage is (or was) based on current 
employment status. This form is used by the Social Security 
Administration to obtain information from employers regarding whether a 
Medicare beneficiary's coverage under a group health plan is based on 
current employment status. Frequency: Reporting--Once; Affected Public: 
Business or Other for profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 5000; Total Annual Responses: 5000; Total Annual Hours: 
1250.
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Medicare Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) 
for Part B Drugs Evaluation: CAP Physician Survey; Form Numbers: CMS-
10223 (OMB: 0938-New); Use: This physician survey is part of 
an overall evaluation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
congressionally mandated Competitive Acquisition for Part B Drugs and 
Biologicals Program (CAP). Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and 
Modernization Act (MMA) section 303(d) requires the implementation of 
the CAP for those drugs and biologicals covered by Medicare part B that 
are not paid on a cost or prospective payment system. Since July 1, 
2006, physicians have been given a choice between (1) Buying and 
billing for these covered drugs under the average sales price (ASP) 
system mandated in section

[[Page 19935]]

303(c) of the MMA; or (2) obtaining these drugs from vendors selected 
for the CAP in a competitive bidding process. If the physician elects 
to obtain drugs from a CAP vendor, the vendor, rather than the 
physician, will bill Medicare for the drug. The CAP is therefore a 
major change in the way Part B-covered drugs and biologicals are 
acquired and reimbursed for, requiring CMS to consider many design 
options. The CAP mandate includes a Report to Congress due July, 1 
2008, which will include results from this physician survey; Frequency: 
Reporting--Once; Affected Public: Business or Other for-profits; Number 
of Respondents: 1560; Total Annual Responses: 1560; Total Annual Hours: 
297.50.
    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/PaperworkReductionActof1995, 
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 June 19, 2007.
    CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development--C, Attention: Bonnie L Harkless, 
Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: April 13, 2007.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E7-7423 Filed 4-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P