[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56199-56200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26113]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-319, CMS-301, CMS-1957 and CMS-317]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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), 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 function; (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 the 
currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: State 
Medicaid Eligibility Quality Control (MEQC) Sample Selection Lists and 
Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 431.800-431.865; Use: State Medicaid 
Eligibility Quality Control (MEQC) is operated by the State Title XIX 
agency to monitor and improve the administration of its Medicaid 
system. The MEQC system is based on State reviews of Medicaid 
beneficiaries identified through statistically reliable statewide 
samples of cases selected from the eligibility files. These reviews are 
conducted to determine whether or not the sampled cases meet applicable 
State Title XIX eligibility requirements by States performing the 
traditional sample process. The reviews are also used to assess 
beneficiary liability, if any, and to determine the amounts paid to 
provide Medicaid services for these cases. At the beginning of each 
month, State agencies still performing the traditional sample are 
required to submit sample selection lists which identify all of the 
cases selected for review in the States' samples. The sample selection 
lists contain identifying information on Medicaid beneficiaries such 
as: State agency review number; beneficiary's name and address; the 
name of the county where beneficiary resides; Medicaid case number, 
etc. The submittal of the sample selection lists is necessary for 
regional office (RO) validation of State reviews. Without these lists, 
the integrity of the sampling results would be suspect and the ROs 
would have no data on the adequacy of the States' monthly sample draw 
or review completion status.; Form Number: CMS-319 (OMB: 0938-
0147); Frequency: Reporting--Monthly; Affected Public: State, Local or 
Tribal governments; Number of Respondents: 10; Total Annual Responses: 
120; Total Annual Hours: 960. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Jessica Woodard 410-786-9249. For all other issues 
call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Certification of 
Medicaid Eligibility Quality Control Payment Error Rates and Supporting 
Regulations Contained in 42 CFR 431.816; Use: Under the MEQC program, 
States can operate the traditional MEQC sample-and-review program or 
States can elect to study targeted areas of eligibility or program 
administration that are error-prone or that will help to prevent or 
reduce erroneous or misspent funds. These alternative MEQC programs are 
called MEQC pilots. Some States operate alternative MEQC programs as 
part of their research and demonstration waivers under Section 1115 of 
the Social Security Act. The majority of States operate some form of 
alternative MEQC program. However, since the number of States that 
conduct traditional MEQC programs and alternative MEQC programs can 
fluctuate at any time, we have assessed the burden and costs associated 
with submitting the Payment Error Rate form as if all States were 
reporting this information.
    State agencies are required to submit the Payment Error Rate form 
to their respective CMS Regional Offices. Regional Office staff will 
review these forms for completeness and will forward

[[Page 56200]]

these forms to the Central Office for compilation of error rate charts 
for projected quarterly withholdings and/or fiscal disallowances. The 
collection of information is also necessary to implement provisions 
from the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 
2009 (CHIPRA) (Pub. L. 111-3) with regard to the Medicaid Eligibility 
Quality Control (MEQC) and Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) 
programs. Form Number: CMS-301 (OMB: 0938-0246); Frequency: 
Reporting and Recordkeeping--Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local, or 
Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 51; Total Annual Responses: 
102; Total Annual Hours: 16,446. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Jessica Woodard 410-786-9249. For all other issues 
call 410-786-1326.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement without 
change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information 
Collection: SSO Report of State Buy-in Problem and Supporting 
Regulations in 42 CFR 407.40; Use: Under the State Buy-In program, 
States enroll certain groups of needy people under the Part B 
Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Program and pay their premiums. 
The purpose of the ``buy-in'' is to allow the States to provide SMI 
protection to certain groups of needy individuals as part of its total 
assistance plan. Generally, States ``buy-in'' for individuals who are 
categorically needy under Medicaid and meet the eligibility 
requirements for Medicare Part B. States can also include in their buy-
in agreement those eligible for medical assistance only. The CMS-1957 
is used in the resolution of beneficiary complaints regarding State 
buy-in. This form facilitates the coordination of efforts between the 
SSO, State Medicaid Agencies, and CMS in the resolution of a 
beneficiary's State buy-in problem.; Form Number: CMS-1957 
(OMB: 0938-0035); Frequency: Reporting--On occasion; Affected 
Public: Federal government, Individuals or Households, and State, 
Local, and Tribal governments; Number of Respondents: 5,600; Total 
Annual Responses: 5,600; Total Annual Hours: 1,816. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact Lucia Diaz-Robinson 410-
786-0598. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    4. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: State Medicaid 
Eligibility Quality Control Sampling Plan and Supporting Regulations in 
42 CFR 431.800-431.865; Use: The Medicaid Eligibility Quality Control 
(MEQC) System is operated by the State Title XIX agency to monitor and 
improve the administration of its Medicaid system. The MEQC system is 
based on monthly State reviews of Medicaid cases by States performing 
the traditional sampling process identified through statistically 
reliable statewide samples of cases selected from the eligibility 
files. These reviews are conducted to determine whether or not the 
sampled cases meet applicable State Title XIX eligibility requirements. 
The reviews are also used to assess beneficiary liability, if any, and 
to determine the amounts paid to provide Medicaid services for these 
cases.; Form Number: CMS-317 (OMB: 0938-0146); Frequency: 
Recordkeeping and Reporting--Semi-annually; Affected Public: State, 
Local or Tribal governments; Number of Respondents: 10; Total Annual 
Responses: 20; Total Annual Hours: 480. (For policy questions regarding 
this collection contact Jessica Woodard 410-786-9249. 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 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 by the OMB desk 
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on November 30, 
2009. OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS 
Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: October 23, 2009.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-26113 Filed 10-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P