[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 146 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38208-38209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18378]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10191]


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: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Parts C 
and D Universal Audit Guide; Use: Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, 
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and implementing regulations 
at 42 CFR Parts 422 and 423 Medicare Part D plan sponsors and Medicare 
Advantage organizations are required to comply with all Medicare Parts 
C and D program requirements. 42 CFR 422.502 describes CMS' regulatory 
authority to evaluate, through inspection or other means, Medicare 
Advantage Part C organizations. These records include books, contracts, 
medical records, patient care documentation and other records that 
pertain to any aspect of services performed, reconciliation of benefit 
liabilities, and determination of amounts payable. 42 CFR 423.503 
states that CMS must oversee a Part D plan sponsor's continued 
compliance with the requirements for a Part D plan sponsor. Sec.  
423.514 states that the Part D plan sponsor must have an effective 
procedure to develop, compile, evaluate, and report to CMS, to its 
enrollees, and to the general public, at the times and in the manner 
that CMS requires, statistics regarding areas such as cost of 
operations, patterns of utilization availability, accessibility, and 
acceptability of services.
    The explosive growth of these sponsoring organizations has forced 
CMS to update its current auditing strategy to ensure we continue to 
obtain meaningful audit results. As a result, CMS' audit strategy will 
reflect a move away from routine audits to more targeted, data-driven 
and risk-based audits. CMS will also focus on high-risk areas that have 
the greatest potential for beneficiary harm. The goal of the audits 
will be the earliest possible detection and correction of issues and 
improvement in quality and performance of Part D sponsors and Medicare 
Advantage organizations.
    To accomplish these goals, we have combined all Part C and Part D 
audit elements into one universal guide which will also promote 
consistency, effectiveness and reduce financial and time burdens for 
both CMS and Medicare-contracting entities. Please refer to the 
crosswalk document for a list of changes. Form Number: CMS-10191 
(OMB: 0938-1000); Frequency: Reporting--Yearly; Affected 
Public: Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; 
Number of Respondents: 195; Total Annual Responses: 195; Total Annual 
Hours: 24,180. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Laura Dash at 410-786-8623. For all other issues call 410-786-1326).
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' 
Web Site 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.
    In commenting on the proposed information collections please 
reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured 
consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of 
the following ways by September 29, 2009:
    1. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically to 
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the

[[Page 38209]]

instructions for ``Comment or Submission'' or ``More Search Options'' 
to find the information collection document(s) accepting comments.
    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following 
address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB 
Control Number (CMS-10078), Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: July 23, 2009.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-18378 Filed 7-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P