[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47850-47851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19605]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier 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 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 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 
to 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 Health Outcome Survey (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[supreg]).
    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

[[Page 47851]]

Older Adults, Physical Activity in Older Adults, Fall Risk Management, 
and Osteoporosis Testing in Older Women HEDIS[supreg] 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.
    The 60-day Federal Register notice published on April 27, 2012, (77 
FR 25181). Subsequently, the HOS Questionnaire collection instrument 
has been revised by clarifying, removing and renumbering a few 
questions. The burden estimate has not changed. Form Number: CMS-10203 
(OCN: 0938-0701); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Individuals and 
households; Number of Respondents: 2,352; Total Annual Responses: 
666,120; Total Annual Hours: 219,820 (For policy questions regarding 
this collection contact Kimberly DeMichele at 410-786-4286. 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.
    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 10, 
2012.

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

    Dated: August 6, 2012.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-19605 Filed 8-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P