[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13544-13545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6237]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10053, CMS-906 and CMS-10294]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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), 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: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Paid Feeding 
Assistants in Long Term Care Facilities and Supporting Regulations at 
42 CFR 483.160; Use: Section 42 CFR 483 permits long-term care 
facilities to use paid feeding assistants to supplement the services of 
certified nurse aides. If facilities choose this option, feeding 
assistance must complete a specified training program. In addition, a 
facility must maintain a record of all individuals, used by the 
facility as feeding assistants, who have successfully completed the 
training course for paid feeding assistants. This information is used 
as part of the process to determine facility compliance with this 
requirement. Form Number: CMS-10053 (OMB: 0938-0916); 
Frequency: Reporting--Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector: Business 
or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 13,280; Total Annual Responses: 4,250; Total Annual Hours: 
25,500. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Susan 
Joslin at 410-786-3516. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: The Fiscal 
Soundness Reporting Requirements; Use: CMS is assigned responsibility 
for overseeing all Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAO), Prescription 
Drug Plan (PDP) sponsors, 1876 Cost Plans, Demonstration Plans and PACE 
organizations on-going financial performance. Specifically, CMS needs 
the requested collection of information to establish that contracting 
entities within those programs maintain fiscally sound organizations. 
Refer to the supporting documents for a list of changes to this 
collection. Form Number: CMS-906 (OMB: 0938-0469); Frequency: 
Reporting--Yearly and Quarterly; Affected Public: Private Sector: 
Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number 
of Respondents: 514; Total Annual Responses: 1,039; Total Annual Hours: 
346. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Robert 
Ahern at 410-786-0073. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Program Evaluation of the Eighth and Ninth 
Scope of Work Quality Improvement Organization Program; Use: The 
statutory authority for the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) 
Program is found in Part B of Title XI of the Social Security Act, as 
amended by the Peer Review Improvement Act of 1982. The Social Security 
Act established the Utilization and Quality Control Peer Review 
Organization Program, now known as the QIO Program. The statutory 
mission of the QIO Program, as set forth in Title XVIII--Health 
Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1862(g) of the Social 
Security Act--is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and 
quality of services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. The quality 
strategies of the Medicare QIO Program are carried out by specific QIO 
contractors working with health care providers in their state, 
territory, or the District of Columbia. The QIO contract contains a 
number of quality improvement initiatives that are authorized by 
various provisions in the Act. As a general matter, Section 1862(g) of 
the Act mandates that the secretary enter into contracts with QIOs for 
the purpose of determining that Medicare services are reasonable and 
medically necessary and for the purposes of promoting the effective, 
efficient, and economical delivery of health care services and of 
promoting the quality of the type of services for which payment may be 
made under Medicare. CMS interprets the term ``promoting the quality of 
services'' to involve more than QIOs reviewing care on a case-by-case 
basis, but to include a broad range of proactive initiatives that will 
promote higher quality. CMS has, for example, included in the SOW tasks 
in which the QIO will provide technical assistance to Medicare-
participating providers and practitioners in order to help them improve 
the quality of the care they furnish to Medicare beneficiaries.

[[Page 13545]]

    Additional authority for these activities appears in Section 
1154(a)(8) of the Act, which requires that QIOs perform such duties and 
functions, assume such responsibilities, and comply with such other 
requirements as may be required by the Medicare statute. CMS regards 
survey activities as appropriate if they will directly benefit Medicare 
beneficiaries. In addition, Section 1154(a)(10) of the Act specifically 
requires that the QIOs ``coordinate activities, including information 
exchanges, which are consistent with economical and efficient operation 
of programs among appropriate public and private agencies or 
organizations, including other public or private review organizations 
as may be appropriate.'' CMS regards this as specific authority for 
QIOs to coordinate and operate a broad range of collaborative and 
community activities among private and public entities, as long as the 
predicted outcome will directly benefit the Medicare program.
    The purpose of the study is to design and conduct an analysis 
evaluating the impact on national and regional health care processes 
and outcomes of the Ninth Scope of Work QIO Program. The QIO Program is 
national in scope and scale and affects the quality of healthcare of 43 
million elderly and disabled Americans. CMS will conduct an impact and 
process analysis using data from multiple sources: (1) Primary data 
collected via in-depth interviews, focus groups, and surveys of QIOs, 
health care providers, and other stakeholders; (2) secondary data 
reported by QIOs through CMS systems; and (3) CMS administrative data. 
The findings will be presented in a final report as well as in other 
documents and reports suitable for publication in peer-review journals. 
This request relates to the following data collections: (1) Survey of 
QIO directors and theme leaders; (2) Survey of hospital QI directors 
and nursing home administrators; (3) focus groups with Medicare 
beneficiaries; and (4) in-person and telephone discussions with QIO 
staff, partner organizations, health care providers, and community 
health leaders. Form Number: CMS-10294 (OMB 0938-New); 
Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Business or other for-
profits, and Medicare beneficiaries; Number of Respondents: 3,343; 
Total Annual Responses: 3,343; Total Annual Hours: 1,707. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact Robert Kambic at 410-786-
1515. 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 April 21, 2010.

OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: March 15, 2010.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-6237 Filed 3-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P