[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 208 (Friday, October 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 65390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26378]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10261]


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: Part C Medicare Advantage Reporting 
Requirements and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 422.516(a); Use: The 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established reporting 
requirements for Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) under the 
authority described in 42 CFR 422.516(a). It is noted that each MAO 
must have an effective procedure to develop, compile, evaluate, and 
report to CMS, to its enrollees, and to the general public, at the 
times and in the manner that CMS requires, and while safeguarding the 
confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship, statistics and 
other information with respect to the cost of its operations, patterns 
of service utilization, availability, accessibility, and acceptability 
of its services, developments in the health status of its enrollees, 
and other matters that CMS may require.
    CMS also has oversight authority over cost plans which includes 
establishment of reporting requirements. The data requirements in this 
supporting statement are specifically relevant to the cost plan 
requirements in section 1876(c)(1)(C) of the Social Security Act which 
establishes beneficiary enrollment and appeal rights.
    CMS initiated new Part C reporting requirements with the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the ``Information Collection 
Request'' (ICR) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) in 
December, 2008 (OMB  0938-New; CMS-10261). National PACE plans 
and 1833 cost plans are excluded from reporting all the new Part C 
Reporting Requirements measures. The initial ICR involved thirteen 
measures. Two of these thirteen measures have been suspended from 
reporting because the information is available elsewhere: Measurement 
10 Agent Compensation Structure and; Measurement 11 
Agent Training and Testing. One new measure was added beginning 2012: 
Enrollment and Disenrollment. The ICR Reference number is 201105-0938-
008. The OMB control number is 0938-1054.
    CMS suspended the ``Benefit Utilization'' measure in late 2011. 
Thus, calendar year 2011 benefit utilization data were not reported. 
This suspension remains in effect and will lead to a reduction in 
burden. CMS is requesting the suspension of two additional measures: 
``Procedure Frequency'' and Provider Network Adequacy.'' The 
suspensions are all due to the fact that equivalent data are already 
being collected or are available through other sources in CMS. These 
suspensions will lead to a decrease in burden. CMS is adding one 
additional data element to its ``grievances'' measure. The grievance 
measure currently has 10 reporting categories. The additional category 
will be ``CMS Issues.'' This will add a slight increase to burden for 
this measure only. As a result of ``lessons learned'' after the 
publication of the 60-day notice, CMS proposes to make the Part C 
measure, Plan Oversight of Agents, consistent with the corresponding 
Part D section. Instead of reporting six data elements, contracts will 
now be required to report ten data elements. This change added a slight 
increase in burden. Overall, the approval of this ICR will lead to an 
estimated burden reduction of 85,594 hours and $5,217,603 in costs on 
an annual basis. Form Number: CMS-10261(OCN: 0938-1054); 
Frequency: Yearly, Quarterly; Affected Public: Private Sector--Business 
or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 1,375; Total Annual 
Responses: 6,715; Total Annual Hours: 123,326. (For policy questions 
regarding this collection contact Terry Lied at 410-786-8973. For all 
other issues call 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 26, 
2012.

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

    Dated: October 23, 2012.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-26378 Filed 10-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P