[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27777-27778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11441]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-643 and CMS-10425]


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: Extension without change 
of a currently approved collection. Title of Information Collection: 
Hospice Survey and Deficiencies Report Form and Supporting Regulations. 
Use: CMS uses the information collected as the basis for certification 
decisions for hospices that wish to obtain or retain participation in 
the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The information is used by CMS 
regional offices, which have the delegated authority to certify 
Medicare facilities for participation, and by State Medicaid agencies, 
which have comparable authority under Medicaid. The information on the 
Hospice Survey and Deficiencies Report Form is coded for entry into the 
OSCAR system. The data is analyzed by the CMS regional offices and by 
the CMS central office components for program evaluation and monitoring 
purposes. The information is also available to the public upon request. 
Form Number: CMS-643 (OCN 0938-0379). Frequency: Yearly. Affected 
Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments. Number of Respondents: 
3,644. Total Annual Responses: 1,217. Total Annual Hours: 1,217. (For 
policy questions regarding this collection contact Kim Roche at 410-
786-3524. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction and 
Experience of Care for Medicare Beneficiaries with End-Stage Renal 
Disease (ESRD): Impact of the ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS) and 
ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP); Use: The Medicare Prescription 
Drug Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) required the 
Secretary of HHS to submit to Congress a report detailing the elements 
and features for the design and implementation of a bundled ESRD PPS, 
specifying that such a system should include the bundling of separately 
billed drugs, clinical laboratory tests, and other items ``to maximum 
extent feasible''. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers 
Act of 2008 (MIPPA) directed the Secretary of HHS to implement a 
payment system under which a single payment is made to a provider of 
services or a renal dialysis facility for renal dialysis services in 
lieu of any other payment. The ESRD PPS combines composite rate 
dialysis services with separately billable services under a single 
payment adjusted to reflect patient differences in resource needs or 
case-mix. The MIPPA also stipulated the development of quality 
incentives for the ESRD program. CMS has established the End-Stage 
Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program (ESRD QIP) to address this 
provision of the legislation.
    In order to assess the impact of the Final Rule on ESRD beneficiary 
experiences, satisfaction, and health outcomes, CMS is requesting OMB 
approval to conduct data collection to obtain input on the effect of 
the Final Rule on our ESRD beneficiaries. The purposes of this data 
collection effort are to assess beneficiary satisfaction and experience 
of care in terms of access to services, quality of care, outcomes, and 
cost. This will be measured through telephone surveys with ESRD 
beneficiary and through interviews with key stakeholder in the renal 
health care community. The information obtained from both the 
beneficiary respondents and key stakeholders will be used both to 
provide an initial reporting of the ESRD PPS/QIP's effects on 
beneficiary satisfaction and experience of care and to inform the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the impact of the 
ESRD PPS/QIP on patient satisfaction and experience of care, including 
unintended consequences, for consideration of future modification of 
the programs.
    Form Number: CMS-10425 (OCN: 0938-New); Frequency: Yearly; Affected 
Public: Individuals. Number of Respondents: 2,540. Number of Responses: 
2,540. Total Annual Hours: 1,287. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Steve Blackwell at 410-786-6852. 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 Email 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 July 10, 2012:
    1. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically to 
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 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

[[Page 27778]]

Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, 
Attention: Document Identifier/OMB Control Number ------------------, 
Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: May 8, 2012.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-11441 Filed 5-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P