[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49494-49495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19756]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-265-94, CMS-1728-94, CMS-10240, CMS-P-0015A 
and CMS-10203]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506I(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: Independent Renal 
Dialysis Facility Cost Report; Use: The Independent Renal Dialysis 
Facility Cost Report, is filed annually by providers participating in 
the Medicare program to identify the specific items of cost and 
statistics of facility operation that independent renal dialysis 
facilities are required to report. Form Number: CMS-265-94 
(OMB: 0938-0236); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business 
or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 5,508 Total Annual Responses: 5,508; Total Annual Hours: 
275,400 (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Gail 
Duncan at 410-786-7278. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Home Health 
Agency Cost Report; Use: These cost report forms are filed annually by 
freestanding providers participating in the Medicare program to effect 
year end cost settlement for providing services to Medicare 
beneficiaries. The data submitted on the cost reports supports 
management of Federal programs. Providers receiving Medicare 
reimbursement must provide adequate cost data based on financial and 
statistical records which can be verified by qualified auditors. The 
data from these cost reporting forms will be used for the purpose of 
evaluating current levels of Medicare reimbursement. Form Number: CMS-
1728-94 (OMB: 0938-0022); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: 
Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number 
of Respondents: 7,479 Total Annual Responses: 7,479; Total Annual 
Hours: 1,690,254 (For policy questions regarding this collection 
contact Angela Havrilla at 410-786-4516. For all other issues call 410-
786-1326.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Data Collection 
for the Nursing Home Value-Based Purchasing (NHVBP) Demonstration; Use: 
The goal of the NHVBP Demonstration is to use financial incentives to 
improve the quality of care in nursing homes. The main purpose of the 
NHVBP data collection effort is to gather information that will enable 
CMS to determine which nursing homes will be eligible to receive 
incentive payments under the NHVBP Demonstration. Information will be 
collected from nursing homes participating in the demonstration on an 
ongoing basis. CMS will collect payroll-based staffing, agency staffing 
and resident census information to help assess the quality of care in 
participating nursing homes. CMS will determine which homes qualify for 
an incentive payment based on their relative performance in terms of 
quality. Form Number: CMS-10240 (OMB: 0938-1039); Frequency: 
Quarterly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and Not-for-
profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 178 Total Annual Responses: 
712; Total Annual Hours: 5,530 (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Ron Lambert at 410-786-6624. For all other issues 
call 410-786-1326.)
    4. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Current 
Beneficiary Survey; Use: The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) 
serves to measure what impact the changes of adding a new benefit have 
on the program and its beneficiaries. The MCBS is a comprehensive data 
collection effort that fills an information gap in the

[[Page 49495]]

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and is depended on to help 
manage the program. Being able to examine various characteristics and 
to chart evolving trends offers policy makers a reliable tool for 
making informed decisions. The MCBS is used to identify potential new 
policy direction or modifications to the Medicare program and once 
those program enhancements are implemented, monitor the impact of those 
changes. The central goals of the MCBS are to determine medical care 
expenditures and sources of payment for all services, including 
copayments, deductibles, and non-covered services; to ascertain all 
types of health insurance coverage and relate coverage to actual 
payments; and to trace processes over time, such as changes in health 
status, spending down to Medicaid eligibility, and the impacts of 
program changes. Form Number: CMS-P-0015A (OMB: 0938-0568); 
Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and 
Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 16,217 Total Annual 
Responses: 48,650; Total Annual Hours: 57,062 (For policy questions 
regarding this collection contact William Long at 410-786-7927. For all 
other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    5. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Health 
Outcomes Survey (HOS); Use: CMS has a responsibility to its Medicare 
beneficiaries to require that care provided by managed care 
organizations under contract with CMS is of high quality. One way of 
ensuring high quality care in Medicare Managed Care Organizations 
(MCOs), or more commonly referred to as Medicare Advantage 
Organizations (MAOs), is through the development of standardized, 
uniform performance measures to enable CMS to gather the data needed to 
evaluate the care provided to Medicare beneficiaries.
    The goal of the Medicare HOS program is to gather valid, reliable, 
clinically meaningful health status data in Medicare managed care for 
use in quality improvement activities, plan accountability, public 
reporting, and improving health. All managed care plans with Medicare 
Advantage (MA) contracts must participate. CMS, in collaboration with 
the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), launched the 
Medicare HOS as part of the Effectiveness of Care component of the 
former Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set, now known as the 
Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS[reg]).
    The HOS measure was developed under the guidance of a Technical 
Expert Panel comprised of individuals with specific expertise in the 
health care industry and outcomes measurement. The measure includes the 
most recent advances in summarizing physical and mental health outcomes 
results and appropriate risk adjustment techniques. In addition to 
health outcomes measures, the HOS is used to collect the Management of 
Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults, Physical Activity in Older 
Adults, Fall Risk Management, and Osteoporosis Testing in Older Women 
HEDIS[reg] measures. The collection of Medicare HOS is necessary to 
hold Medicare managed care contractors accountable for the quality of 
care they are delivering. This reporting requirement allows CMS to 
obtain the information necessary for proper oversight of the Medicare 
Advantage program. Form Number: CMS-10203 (OMB: 0938-0701); 
Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Individuals and households; Number 
of Respondents: 1,099,560 Total Annual Responses: 1,099,560; Total 
Annual Hours: 366,520 (For policy questions regarding this collection 
contact Chris Haffer at 410-786-8764. 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 September 13, 
2010.
    OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS 
Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: August 6, 2010.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-19756 Filed 8-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P